Bahuichivo Wastewater Treatment Plant, Chihuahua, Mexico

Bahuichivo is a wastewater treatment plant located in the town of Bahuichivo, within the municipality of Urique, Chihuahua, Mexico. The facility serves a small population of approximately 2,355 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or semi-urban community in the Sierra Madre Occidental region. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 362.88 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 241.92 cubic meters per day, the plant operates below its full capacity. In Mexico, 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 treated effluent from Bahuichivo likely discharges into a local stream or river that flows through the mountainous terrain of Chihuahua, eventually contributing to the larger hydrological network of the region. The area is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for downstream communities and agriculture.

Bahuichivo is situated in the Sierra Madre Occidental, a mountainous region with steep terrain and seasonal rainfall. The treated wastewater likely enters a local watercourse that drains into the Rio Fuerte or another river system flowing toward the Gulf of California. This watershed supports a variety of freshwater species and is important for local agriculture and drinking water supplies. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution, protecting downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.