Aratichanguio Wastewater Treatment Plant, Guerrero, Mexico

The Aratichanguio wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Aratichanguio, within the municipality of Zirándaro in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. This facility serves a population of 1,519 residents, providing secondary treatment to municipal wastewater. The plant has a designed capacity of 259.20 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 172.80 cubic meters per day of treated effluent. As a secondary treatment plant, Aratichanguio employs biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting Mexican regulatory standards (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) for discharge into water bodies. The plant's capacity utilization is approximately 67%, indicating operational headroom for future population growth or seasonal variations. Mexican wastewater treatment plants of this scale are typically subject to federal oversight by CONAGUA (National Water Commission) and must comply with discharge limits based on receiving water body classification. The treated effluent from Aratichanguio is discharged into a local watercourse that eventually drains into the Balsas River basin, one of Mexico's major hydrological regions. The Balsas River flows westward through Guerrero and Michoacán before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and provides water for agricultural and domestic use downstream. Proper treatment at Aratichanguio helps protect water quality in this important basin.

The Aratichanguio plant discharges into a tributary of the Balsas River, which flows through the Sierra Madre del Sur region into the Pacific Ocean. The Balsas basin is ecologically significant, hosting endemic fish species and providing habitat for migratory birds. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants, helping maintain water quality for downstream communities and ecosystems in this semi-arid region.