Acopinalco de Peñón Wastewater Treatment Plant, Tlaxcala, Mexico

The Acopinalco de Peñón wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Acopinalco del Peñón, within the municipality of Tlaxco in the state of Tlaxcala, Mexico. It serves a population of 2,808 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility. The plant operates under Mexico's national water regulations, which require secondary treatment for communities of this size to protect public health and the environment. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 1,097.28 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 311.04 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variations. The plant is managed as part of the local municipal water infrastructure. Treated wastewater from the plant is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Gulf of Mexico via the Pánuco River basin. This region is ecologically important, supporting diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities downstream. Proper treatment helps maintain water quality in the watershed and reduces nutrient loading that could affect coastal ecosystems.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Pánuco River basin, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports agricultural irrigation and freshwater habitats. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting downstream water quality and aquatic biodiversity in a region where water resources are vital for local communities.