Overview
El Baluarte wastewater treatment plant in Zacatecas, Mexico, provides secondary treatment for a small population of 1,062. It discharges approximately 197.86 cubic meters of treated wastewater daily.
El Baluarte is a wastewater treatment plant located in the town of El Baluarte, within the municipality of Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico. The plant serves a small population of 1,062 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or semi-urban community. Its designed capacity is 736.13 cubic meters per day, with an actual discharge volume of 197.86 cubic meters per day, indicating operational headroom. The plant employs secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process for removing organic matter and suspended solids. Under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 and subsequent updates), secondary treatment is typically required for discharges into water bodies to meet quality standards. For a plant of this size, secondary treatment aligns with national norms for protecting receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Rio Grande de Santiago or a tributary system. The surrounding region is semi-arid, and water resources are critical for agriculture and local ecosystems. Proper treatment helps safeguard downstream water quality and supports the ecological health of the basin.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a local stream that feeds into the Rio Grande de Santiago basin, which flows westward to the Pacific Ocean. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for irrigation in the region. The semi-arid climate means that maintaining water quality is essential for both human use and ecological balance, as downstream habitats rely on consistent, clean water flows.
Frequently asked questions
El Baluarte is located in the town of El Baluarte, within the municipality of Fresnillo, in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico.
The plant serves a population of 1,062 residents, making it a small-scale facility for a rural community.
El Baluarte provides secondary treatment, which involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
Mexican plants operate under NOM-001-SEMARNAT, which sets discharge limits for pollutants. Secondary treatment is typical for small plants to meet these standards and protect receiving waters.
The plant discharges approximately 197.86 cubic meters of treated wastewater per day, well below its designed capacity of 736.13 cubic meters per day.
Nearby plants