Alcaraces Wastewater Treatment Plant, Colima, Mexico

The Alcaraces wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Alcaraces, within the municipality of Cuauhtémoc, Colima, Mexico. It serves a population of about 3,195 residents, classifying it as a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and treats wastewater from the local community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process for removing organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 432.00 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 302.40 cubic meters per day, the facility operates below its full capacity. Under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 and subsequent updates), secondary treatment is required for municipal wastewater to meet discharge standards for receiving water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Pacific Ocean via the Armería River basin. The surrounding region is characterized by agricultural and rural land use, and the plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems from untreated sewage.

The Alcaraces plant discharges into the Armería River basin, which flows westward through Colima and empties into the Pacific Ocean near the town of Armería. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for irrigation and domestic use. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, safeguarding the ecological health of the river and the coastal zone.