Overview
Agua Prieta wastewater treatment plant serves the Zapopan area in Jalisco, Mexico. It is a large-scale facility handling a population equivalent of over 4 million.
Agua Prieta is a major wastewater treatment plant located in Zapopan, within the Jalisco region of Mexico. It serves a large population of approximately 4.17 million people, making it a critical infrastructure component for the Guadalajara metropolitan area. As a large agglomeration, the plant is expected to meet stringent treatment standards under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 and subsequent updates), which mandate advanced treatment for discharges into sensitive water bodies. The plant's scale suggests it likely employs secondary or tertiary treatment processes to comply with these standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the Santiago River basin, which flows through Jalisco and eventually into the Pacific Ocean via the Rio Grande de Santiago. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and industrial uses downstream.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Santiago River basin, part of the Lerma-Chapala-Santiago hydrological system. This river flows through Jalisco and empties into the Pacific Ocean. The watershed supports a variety of aquatic species and is used for irrigation and industry, making proper treatment essential to prevent eutrophication and contamination.
Frequently asked questions
The Agua Prieta plant is located in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, in the Los Tempisques area.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 4.17 million people, covering a large part of the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
The treated wastewater is discharged into the Santiago River basin, which flows through Jalisco and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean.
The plant operates under Mexican regulations, primarily NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets discharge limits for pollutants into national waters.
For large agglomerations like this, Mexican regulations typically require secondary or tertiary treatment to reduce organic matter, nutrients, and pathogens before discharge.
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