El Crucero Wastewater Treatment Plant, Fraccionamiento el Crucero, Oaxaca, Mexico

El Crucero is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Fraccionamiento el Crucero, within the municipality of Santa María Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,825 residents, providing secondary treatment to manage domestic wastewater from this coastal community. The plant has a designed capacity of 432.00 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 172.80 cubic meters per day of treated effluent. As a secondary treatment facility, it meets the standard level required for municipal wastewater in Mexico under the national water quality regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT), which set discharge limits for pollutants into national waters. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains to the Pacific Ocean. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can affect coastal water quality and marine ecosystems. Proper operation is essential to protect the sensitive coastal environment of Huatulco, a region known for its tourism and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow toward the Pacific Ocean near Huatulco, Oaxaca. This coastal region supports diverse marine life, including coral reefs and mangrove forests, which are sensitive to nutrient pollution and pathogens. Effective secondary treatment helps reduce the ecological impact on these downstream habitats.