Costa Azul Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sinaloa, Mexico

The Costa Azul wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Costa Azul, within the municipality of Angostura, Sinaloa, Mexico. It serves a population of approximately 1,276 people, classifying it as a small-scale facility. The plant is situated near the Pacific coast, which influences its operational and environmental considerations. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for municipal wastewater in Mexico under the NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 regulation, which sets discharge limits for pollutants. With a designed capacity of 397.44 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 276.48 m³/day, the plant operates below its full capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment, likely into a nearby water body that drains into the Pacific Ocean. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can affect coastal water quality and marine ecosystems. The region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the larger Gulf of California watershed, an area of ecological importance.

The plant discharges into a local watercourse that flows into the Pacific Ocean via the Gulf of California. This coastal region supports diverse marine life, including fish, crustaceans, and migratory birds. The proximity to the coast means that nutrient and pathogen loads from the plant could impact nearshore water quality and sensitive habitats such as mangroves and estuaries.