Cofradía de Suchitlán Wastewater Treatment Plant, Colima, Mexico

The Cofradía de Suchitlán wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Comala, Colima, Mexico. It serves a population of approximately 3,012 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and operates within the local water management infrastructure of the state of Colima. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process for removing organic matter and suspended solids. It has a designed capacity of 345.60 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 285.12 cubic meters daily, indicating it operates below its full capacity. Under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 and subsequent updates), secondary treatment is required for municipal wastewater to meet discharge standards for receiving water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Pacific Ocean via the Armería River basin. The region's hydrology supports agricultural activities and diverse ecosystems. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and aquatic life in the river systems of Colima.

The plant's discharge enters the local drainage network within the Armería River basin, which flows westward to the Pacific Ocean. This watershed supports irrigated agriculture and seasonal wetlands. The region's tropical climate and volcanic soils create sensitive aquatic habitats that benefit from effective nutrient and pathogen removal provided by secondary treatment.