Benito Juárez Wastewater Treatment Plant, Tlaxcala, Mexico

The Benito Juárez wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Benito Juárez, within the state of Tlaxcala, Mexico. It serves a population of approximately 5,668 residents, classifying it as a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated in an inland area, away from coastal zones, and its operations are part of the local water management infrastructure. The facility provides secondary treatment, which is a standard biological process that reduces organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 466.56 thousand m³/year and an actual discharge volume of 536.54 thousand m³/year, the plant operates at a utilization rate exceeding its nominal 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 Gulf of Mexico via the Pánuco River basin or adjacent basins. The region's aquatic ecosystems depend on adequate treatment to prevent nutrient loading and maintain water quality. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream environments, including agricultural areas and freshwater habitats.

The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the upper Pánuco River basin, which flows eastward to the Gulf of Mexico. This inland watershed supports agricultural irrigation and freshwater biodiversity. Effective secondary treatment helps control organic pollution and nutrient enrichment, safeguarding downstream water quality for both human use and aquatic life.