{"id":9702,"date":"2025-09-01T08:15:44","date_gmt":"2025-09-01T08:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stereau.com\/communiques\/the-metropole-europeenne-de-lille-lays-first-stone-of-the-future-wattrelos-leers-wastewater-treatment-plant\/"},"modified":"2025-09-02T08:31:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T08:31:14","slug":"the-metropole-europeenne-de-lille-lays-the-foundation-stone-of-the-future-wattrelos-leers-wastewater-treatment-plant","status":"publish","type":"communiques","link":"https:\/\/www.stereau.com\/en\/press-releases\/the-metropole-europeenne-de-lille-lays-the-foundation-stone-of-the-future-wattrelos-leers-wastewater-treatment-plant\/","title":{"rendered":"The M\u00e9tropole Europ\u00e9enne de Lille lays the foundation stone of the future Wattrelos\u2013Leers wastewater treatment plant"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"9702\" class=\"elementor elementor-9702 elementor-9670\" data-elementor-post-type=\"communiques\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6c8e04c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6c8e04c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1fe3e1d0\" data-id=\"1fe3e1d0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5af0102c elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"5af0102c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-d0dd295 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>1 September 2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7cee242c elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7cee242c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The M\u00e9tropole Europ\u00e9enne de Lille lays the foundation stone of the future Wattrelos\u2013Leers wastewater treatment plant<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4f219292 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4f219292\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2951dd52\" data-id=\"2951dd52\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65823a74 elementor-widget__width-auto elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"65823a74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Share:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46adabb6 elementor-share-buttons--skin-minimal elementor-share-buttons--shape-circle elementor-share-buttons--color-custom elementor-widget__width-auto elementor-share-buttons--view-icon-text elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons\" data-id=\"46adabb6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"share-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_facebook\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_twitter\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on twitter\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_linkedin\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fab fa-linkedin\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-23ff7e2f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"23ff7e2f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-16 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5dd6bb46\" data-id=\"5dd6bb46\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6b4dcc01\" data-id=\"6b4dcc01\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40cf82d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"40cf82d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The M\u00e9tropole Europ\u00e9enne de Lille (MEL) held the official groundbreaking ceremony for the future Wattrelos\u2013Leers wastewater treatment plant on Thursday, August 28, 2025.<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The event brought together Damien Castelain, President of MEL; Dominique Baert, Mayor of Wattrelos; Jean-Philippe Andries, Mayor of Leers; Isabelle Matykowski, Director General of the Artois-Picardie Water Agency; as well as representatives of the Saur Group and its subsidiaries, including \u00c9lise Le Vaillant, Vice President of Saur France North-East, and Hugo Bardi, President of Saur Water Engineering and Stereau, alongside the companies of the consortium appointed to carry out the works, including NGE.<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>This milestone marks the launch of a strategic project for the region, one of the largest wastewater treatment plant modernization initiatives in France over the coming decade.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-16 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-689cd6ec\" data-id=\"689cd6ec\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-596ab31a bg_2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"596ab31a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-12a1433e\" data-id=\"12a1433e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-45690407 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"45690407\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>A major project for MEL\u2019s ecological and climate transition<\/strong><\/p><p>Commissioned in 1986 and renovated in the early 2000s, the Wattrelos wastewater treatment plant currently treats the wastewater of nearly 417,000 population-equivalents across 15 MEL municipalities and the city of Mouscron (Belgium).<br \/>With this extension and reconstruction project, its capacity will increase to 511,500 population-equivalents by 2031, representing a rise of more than 20%.<br \/><br \/>The future plant will deliver enhanced performance:<br \/>Treatment capacity increased from 3.3 m\u00b3\/s to 10.3 m\u00b3\/s, thanks to the creation of a new 7 m\u00b3\/s rainwater treatment line,<br \/>A 30,000 m\u00b3 storage basin\u2014equivalent to 10 Olympic swimming pools\u2014for improved stormwater management,<br \/>Potential integration of water reuse (REUSE) for local applications, along with exemplary landscaping, including 4 hectares of wildflower meadows and strengthened hedgerow networks to foster biodiversity.<\/p><p>The project will be phased to minimize impacts on the environment and local residents. A group of 20 to 40 residents will also be involved to regularly discuss progress and share feedback.<\/p><p><strong>An exemplary, energy-positive plant<\/strong><\/p><p>The new Wattrelos\u2013Leers plant is designed as a model of efficiency, performance, and circular economy.<br \/>It will be a net energy producer thanks to a unique combination of technologies:<br \/>Sludge methanization generating 11 GWh\/year of biomethane\u2014the equivalent of the annual consumption of 2,800 residents,<br \/>Energy potential from dried sludge amounting to 14 GWh\/year.<br \/>\u2022 Recovery of waste heat (2.2 GWh\/year), covering the plant\u2019s needs and equivalent to heating 1,500 homes.<br \/>\u2022 6,000 m\u00b2 of photovoltaic panels and hydroelectric turbines, supplying more than 10% of the plant\u2019s electricity needs.<\/p><p>In addition, the plant will be powered entirely by 100% green electricity.<\/p><p>Thus, the plant will become one of the largest energy-positive facilities in France, fully contributing to MEL\u2019s Climate Plan objectives and the decarbonization of essential services.<\/p><p><strong>Environmental protection and quality of life<\/strong><\/p><p>The wastewater treatment plant will incorporate innovative measures to enhance comfort and quality of life for local residents:<br \/>Source-level odor capture and treatment<br \/>Enclosure of noisy equipment<br \/>Entire process supplied with recycled water<br \/>Optimized sludge drying, reducing transport volumes by more than 1,000 truckloads per year<\/p><p>These features will help reduce nuisances, preserve resources, and strengthen the metropolitan policy for sustainable stormwater management, in line with the Local Urban Plan and efforts to combat urban heat islands.<\/p><p><strong>A large-scale construction project<\/strong><\/p><p>The project represents a total investment of nearly \u20ac293 million:<br \/>\u20ac200 million dedicated to construction works,<br \/>\u20ac93 million for 12 years of operation entrusted to Saur France.<\/p><p>Financing includes support from the Artois-Picardie Water Agency (\u20ac45 million in grants and \u20ac30 million in repayable advances) and from the ERDF (\u20ac6 million for the energy component).<\/p><p>The project is being carried out in phases to ensure continuity of public service:<br \/>2025: launch and preparatory works<br \/>2026\u20132028: construction of new facilities<br \/>2029\u20132030: phased commissioning<br \/>2031: operation of the modernized plant<\/p><p><strong>Statements<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Damien Castelain, President of the M\u00e9tropole Europ\u00e9enne de Li<\/strong>lle:<br \/>\u201cWith this \u20ac200 million project, the M\u00e9tropole Europ\u00e9enne de Lille is undertaking one of the largest wastewater treatment plant modernizations in France. It is a structuring project that will increase treatment capacity by 20% and ensure a modern, efficient public sanitation service for hundreds of thousands of residents.<br \/>Beyond the technical dimension, this project reflects our decision to invest in the future, to strengthen the attractiveness of our region, and to improve the daily lives of our residents. MEL is leading by example, placing investment and innovation at the service of the common good.\u201d<\/p><p><strong>\u00c9lise Le Vaillant, Vice President, Saur France North-East:<\/strong><br \/>\u201cWith the M\u00e9tropole Europ\u00e9enne de Lille, we are undertaking a project that concretely illustrates the water transition: a plant capable of treating wastewater for nearly half the territory\u2019s population, while producing more energy than it consumes. It is a forward-looking achievement, designed to adapt to regulatory changes, climate variability, and the needs of future generations.\u201d<\/p><p><strong data-start=\"39\" data-end=\"103\">Hugo Bardi, President of Saur Water Engineering and Stereau:<\/strong><br data-start=\"103\" data-end=\"106\" \/>\u201cThis groundbreaking marks the launch of a large-scale project. Engineering, innovation, and stakeholder engagement come together to create one of the most efficient and exemplary wastewater treatment plants in France. This project highlights the expertise of our teams and the consortium\u2019s commitment alongside MEL.\u201d<\/p><p><strong>Bruno Parent, Deputy Managing Director, NGE Group:<\/strong><br \/>\u201cThis groundbreaking ceremony marks the launch of a major project for which NGE Group is mobilizing its expertise in large-scale civil engineering, built on numerous references in France and internationally. Alongside MEL, local officials, and our partners, we are helping to sustainably protect water resources and strengthen actions in support of the ecological transition of the M\u00e9tropole Europ\u00e9enne de Lille.\u201d<\/p><p><strong>Consortium<\/strong><br \/>Lead contractor and operator: Saur France<br \/>Wastewater engineering: Stereau<br \/>Civil engineering: NGE GC, a subsidiary of NGE Group<br \/>Architects: HB Architectes Associ\u00e9s and Atelier 9.81<br \/>Project management consultant (PMC): Artelia<\/p><p><strong>Total contract value<\/strong>: nearly \u20ac300 million, including \u20ac200 million for construction and \u20ac93 million for 12 years of plant operation by Saur France.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6d7d9f3c elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"6d7d9f3c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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RELEASE<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"featured_media":9674,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"unboxed","site-sidebar-style":"unboxed","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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