Chantepec Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jocotepec, Jalisco, Mexico

Chantepec wastewater treatment plant is located in the community of Chantepec (El Chante), within the municipality of Jocotepec in the Región Ciénega of Jalisco, Mexico. The plant serves a population of 8,215 and operates with secondary treatment, a standard level for municipal wastewater in Mexico under NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets discharge limits for organic matter and solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 777.60 volume units and a discharge volume of 777.60, indicating full utilization. As a coastal facility within 10 km of the Pacific coast, the plant's secondary treatment is appropriate for its scale, though coastal discharges often require additional considerations to protect marine ecosystems. The plant's effluent likely enters local streams or directly into Lake Chapala or the Pacific drainage basin, depending on the specific hydrology of the region. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local watershed, which drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Lerma-Santiago system. By treating wastewater to secondary standards, it reduces organic pollution and helps maintain water quality in downstream environments, supporting aquatic life and human uses such as recreation and fishing.

The plant is situated in the Lerma-Santiago basin, which drains into the Pacific Ocean. The region includes Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake, and downstream rivers that support diverse aquatic ecosystems. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in the lake and coastal waters. The proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means treated effluent may eventually reach marine environments, where dilution and dispersion are important for minimizing ecological impact.