Cinco de Julio Wastewater Treatment Plant, Durango, Mexico

The Cinco de Julio wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Cinco de Julio, within the municipality of San Bernardo, Durango, Mexico. This facility serves a population of 1,056 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for a small community in northern Mexico. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process for reducing organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 259.20 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 112.32 m³/day, the plant operates below its capacity. Under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996), secondary treatment is required for discharges into national waters, ensuring compliance with environmental standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Pacific Ocean via the Nazas River basin. The plant's operation helps protect downstream ecosystems and supports water quality in the arid region of Durango, where water resources are scarce and ecologically sensitive.

The plant discharges into the Nazas River basin, which flows through the semi-arid landscape of Durango and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean via the Laguna de Mayran and the Rio Grande de Santiago. The region's aquatic ecosystems depend on consistent water quality, as the river supports local agriculture and biodiversity. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants, safeguarding the health of downstream water bodies and the communities that rely on them.