Caucel I Wastewater Treatment Plant, Caucel, Yucatán, Mexico

Caucel I is a wastewater treatment plant located in the community of Caucel, part of the Mérida metropolitan area in Yucatán, Mexico. The plant serves a population of 228, classifying it as a very small-scale facility within the region's wastewater infrastructure. As a small plant in Mexico, Caucel I is subject to the country's federal water laws, including the Ley de Aguas Nacionales and NOM-001-SEMARNAT-2021, which set discharge standards for pollutants. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into local groundwater or a nearby watercourse, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico via the Yucatán Peninsula's karst aquifer system. The region's porous limestone terrain makes groundwater protection critical, as contaminants can rapidly affect the underlying freshwater lens and coastal ecosystems.

The plant is located inland on the Yucatán Peninsula, where the karst topography means surface water is scarce and most drainage occurs through underground aquifers. Treated wastewater likely percolates into the local groundwater system, which ultimately discharges into the Gulf of Mexico through coastal springs and seeps. This groundwater-dependent ecosystem supports sensitive aquatic habitats, including cenotes and mangrove forests along the coast, making pollution control essential for preserving water quality and biodiversity.