Colonia Agricola Santa Rosalia Wastewater Treatment Plant, Santa Rosalía, Tabasco

Colonia Agricola Santa Rosalia is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Santa Rosalía, within the municipality of Cárdenas, Tabasco, Mexico. The plant serves a population of 4,107 and operates with secondary treatment, which is appropriate for a community of this size. The facility has a designed capacity of 864.00 thousand cubic meters per year and currently discharges 388.80 thousand cubic meters annually. In Mexico, wastewater treatment plants are regulated under the National Water Law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and overseen by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA). For secondary treatment plants serving small populations, the regulatory framework ensures compliance with discharge standards to protect water quality. The plant's secondary treatment process typically involves biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Gulf of Mexico. Tabasco's hydrology is dominated by the Grijalva and Usumacinta river systems, which form one of the largest watersheds in Mexico. The plant's discharge contributes to the regional water cycle and supports downstream ecosystems, including wetlands and coastal habitats.

The plant discharges into local waterways that are part of the Grijalva-Usumacinta basin, one of Mexico's most significant hydrological systems. This basin supports diverse aquatic life and extensive wetlands, including the Pantanos de Centla, a vital ecosystem for migratory birds and fish. The treated effluent eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico, where it contributes to coastal water quality and marine habitats.