Atlangatepec Wastewater Treatment Plant, Tlaxcala, Mexico

The Atlangatepec wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Atlangatepec, in the state of Tlaxcala, Mexico. It serves a small population of 584 residents, reflecting its role as a local municipal facility in a rural or semi-urban setting. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process for removing organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 129.60 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 55.30 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity. Mexican wastewater treatment plants are regulated under the National Water Law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets discharge limits for pollutants into national waters. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Gulf of Mexico via the Panuco River basin. The region's aquatic ecosystems benefit from the plant's secondary treatment, which reduces organic pollution and protects downstream water quality in the Tlaxcala watershed.

The plant is located inland in the state of Tlaxcala, within the Panuco River basin. Treated effluent likely flows into local streams that feed the Zahuapan River, a tributary of the Panuco River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and water supply. Secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient loading and organic pollution, preserving the ecological health of downstream water bodies.