Cuitzeo Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cuitzeo del Porvenir, Michoacán, Mexico

The Cuitzeo wastewater treatment plant is located in Cuitzeo del Porvenir, Michoacán, Mexico. It serves a population of approximately 10,040 people, making it a medium-sized facility for the region. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and treats wastewater from the local community. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) for municipal wastewater. It has a designed capacity of 1,728 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 950.40 cubic meters per day, indicating it operates below its full capacity. The treatment process ensures that effluent meets quality standards before discharge. The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into Lake Cuitzeo, a large endorheic lake in Michoacán. Lake Cuitzeo is an ecologically sensitive water body that supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity. The plant plays a key role in protecting the lake from untreated sewage and maintaining water quality in the basin.

The plant discharges into the Lake Cuitzeo basin, a closed (endorheic) watershed that does not drain to the sea. Lake Cuitzeo is the second-largest lake in Mexico and provides critical habitat for migratory birds and endemic fish species. The lake's water quality is sensitive to nutrient loading, making secondary treatment essential to prevent eutrophication and preserve the lake's ecological balance.