Copala Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jalisco, Mexico

The Copala wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Copala, within the municipality of Tolimán in the southern region of Jalisco, Mexico. It serves a population of approximately 3,651 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is a standard biological process for removing organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 345.60 cubic meters per day and a matching discharge volume, the plant operates at full capacity. Under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996), secondary treatment is required for discharges into national waters, and this plant meets that standard. The facility is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, reducing direct marine impact. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Pacific Ocean via the Armería River basin. The region's watershed supports agricultural activities and diverse aquatic ecosystems. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and community health.

The plant discharges into the Armería River basin, which flows westward through Jalisco and Colima before reaching the Pacific Ocean near the town of Armería. This watershed supports irrigated agriculture, particularly sugarcane and citrus, and provides habitat for native fish species. The secondary treatment process reduces organic pollutants, helping to maintain the ecological balance of the river and its estuary.