Overview
EL Refugio is a secondary wastewater treatment plant in La Yerbabuena, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, serving a small population of 219. It discharges 20.74 units of treated wastewater daily.
EL Refugio is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the rural community of La Yerbabuena, within the municipality of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The plant serves a small population of 219 residents, reflecting its role in providing essential sanitation services to a modest community. As a secondary treatment facility, it employs biological processes to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, meeting basic environmental standards for wastewater discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 20.74 units and currently treats a daily volume of 20.74 units, indicating full utilization of its capacity. In Mexico, wastewater treatment plants are regulated under the National Water Law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and must comply with official standards (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) that set limits for pollutants in treated wastewater. For small communities like La Yerbabuena, secondary treatment is typically sufficient to protect local water quality. The treated effluent from EL Refugio is discharged into the local environment, likely into a nearby arroyo or stream that eventually drains into the Pánuco River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water bodies from untreated sewage, supporting aquatic life and reducing health risks for communities relying on these water resources.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the local watershed, which is part of the Pánuco River basin. This basin drains into the Gulf of Mexico, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems including wetlands and estuaries. The region is semi-arid, making water quality management critical for both human use and ecological health. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic load and pathogens, helping to maintain the ecological balance of downstream water bodies.
Frequently asked questions
EL Refugio is located in La Yerbabuena, a rural community in the municipality of San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The address is Amparito, La Yerbabuena.
The plant serves a small population of 219 residents, providing secondary wastewater treatment for the local community.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, likely into an arroyo or stream that flows into the Pánuco River basin, eventually reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
In Mexico, wastewater treatment plants like EL Refugio must comply with the National Water Law and the official standard NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets maximum permissible limits for pollutants in treated wastewater.
For small communities in Mexico, secondary treatment is standard and sufficient to meet regulatory requirements, reducing organic matter and pathogens to protect local water bodies.
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