Benjamin Aranda San Rafael Wastewater Treatment Plant, Durango, Mexico

Benjamin Aranda San Rafael is a wastewater treatment plant located in Benjamin Aranda, within the municipality of Canatlan, Durango, Mexico. The plant serves a small population of 365 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or semi-urban community. It operates with secondary treatment, which is a standard biological process for reducing organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 259.20 m³/day and currently discharges 34.56 m³/day of treated wastewater. Under Mexico's national water regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 and subsequent updates), secondary treatment is typically required for discharges to surface waters to meet quality standards for parameters such as biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solids. The plant's capacity utilization suggests it operates well below its design capacity, which is common for small communities with variable flow. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse within the Nazas River basin, which drains into the Laguna de Mayran and ultimately the endorheic basin of the Bolson de Mapimi. This region is semi-arid, and the plant's discharge supports local water availability and downstream ecosystems, including agricultural irrigation and wildlife habitats.

The plant discharges into the Nazas River basin, a key water system in the semi-arid Durango region. The Nazas River flows into the Laguna de Mayran, a shallow lake that supports migratory birds and local biodiversity. Downstream, the water eventually reaches the Bolson de Mapimi, an endorheic basin with unique desert ecosystems. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect these water bodies from organic pollution, which is critical given the region's limited water resources.