Chapultepec Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ciudad de México, Mexico

The Chapultepec wastewater treatment plant is located in the Miguel Hidalgo borough of Ciudad de México, Mexico. It serves an estimated population of 39,083 residents, placing it in the medium agglomeration category. The plant is part of the city's extensive wastewater infrastructure, which manages flows from one of the world's largest urban areas. As a Mexican facility, the plant operates under the Federal Water Rights Law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and is subject to discharge standards set by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA). For agglomerations of this size, secondary treatment is typically required to meet water quality objectives for receiving water bodies. Regulatory compliance ensures appropriate treatment levels. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local drainage system, which ultimately flows into the Valley of Mexico basin. This basin is an endorheic basin with no natural outlet, making water quality management critical for the local environment. The treated effluent contributes to the region's water cycle and supports ecological functions in the surrounding area.

The Chapultepec plant discharges into the Valley of Mexico basin, an endorheic basin that historically contained Lake Texcoco. Today, the basin's water system is heavily managed through canals and drainage tunnels. The downstream environment includes urban waterways and the remaining lacustrine zones, which support migratory birds and aquatic life. Proper treatment is essential to prevent eutrophication and protect the fragile ecological balance of this closed basin.