El Carmen Wastewater Treatment Plant, El Carmen y Anexos, Durango, Mexico

El Carmen is a wastewater treatment plant located in El Carmen y Anexos, a locality within the municipality of Durango, in the state of Durango, Mexico. The plant serves a small population of 640 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or semi-urban setting. It operates under Mexico's national water regulations, which require adequate treatment for communities of this size. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. It has a designed capacity of 129.60 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 103.68 cubic meters per day, indicating it is operating below its full capacity. Secondary treatment is typical for small agglomerations in Mexico. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Nazas River basin. The region is semi-arid, and water resources are critical for agriculture and local ecosystems. The plant helps protect downstream water quality in a basin that supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities.

The plant discharges into the Nazas River basin, which flows through Durango and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. This watershed is ecologically important in a semi-arid region, supporting riparian habitats and agricultural irrigation. The secondary treatment reduces organic pollution, helping to maintain water quality for downstream communities and ecosystems.