Overview
Cocoyoles wastewater treatment plant in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, serves 228 people with secondary treatment. It discharges 186.62 cubic meters per day and operates under Mexican water quality regulations.
Cocoyoles is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Mérida, the capital city of Yucatán, Mexico. The plant serves a small population of 228 residents and is situated in the northern Yucatán Peninsula, a region characterized by karst topography and a tropical climate. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 186.62 cubic meters per day and currently discharges a similar volume, indicating full utilization. Secondary treatment is the standard for small agglomerations in Mexico under the national water law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets discharge limits for municipal wastewater. The plant's operation is overseen by local water authorities, ensuring compliance with environmental standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the local karst aquifer system, which is the primary water source for the region and feeds into cenotes and underground rivers that ultimately drain to the Gulf of Mexico. The Yucatán Peninsula's unique hydrology makes groundwater protection critical, as pollutants can quickly spread through the porous limestone. The plant plays a key role in protecting this sensitive ecosystem from untreated sewage contamination.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Yucatán karst aquifer, which flows through underground rivers and cenotes before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This aquifer system is highly vulnerable to contamination due to rapid infiltration through porous limestone. The region supports diverse aquatic life in cenotes and coastal wetlands, making proper wastewater treatment essential for preserving water quality and ecosystem health.
Frequently asked questions
The Cocoyoles wastewater treatment plant is located in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, at Calle 58, Distrito 1, Mérida, Yucatán, 97000.
The Cocoyoles plant serves a population of 228 people, making it a small-scale municipal treatment facility.
The treated wastewater from Cocoyoles is discharged into the local karst aquifer system, which feeds into underground rivers and cenotes that eventually drain to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Cocoyoles plant provides secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting Mexican discharge standards under NOM-001-SEMARNAT.
The plant operates under Mexico's Ley de Aguas Nacionales and NOM-001-SEMARNAT, which set effluent limits for municipal wastewater. For small plants like Cocoyoles, secondary treatment is typically required to protect water resources.
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