Belem Wastewater Treatment Plant, San Miguel el Alto, Jalisco, Mexico

Belem is a wastewater treatment plant located in San Miguel el Alto, within the state of Jalisco, Mexico. It serves a small community of 827 people, reflecting its role in managing local domestic wastewater in the Altos Sur region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Its designed capacity is 86.40 volume units, and the current discharge volume matches this capacity. As a small-scale facility, it operates under Mexico's national water regulations, which set effluent standards for municipal wastewater. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Lerma-Santiago river system. This region is part of the Lerma-Chapala basin, an ecologically important area that supports agriculture and biodiversity. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality in the Santiago River and Lake Chapala.

The plant discharges into the Lerma-Santiago river system, which flows into Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake, and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical water source for agriculture and communities. The secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution, safeguarding the ecological health of the downstream environment.