El Remudadero Wastewater Treatment Plant, Los Colomos, Colima, Mexico

El Remudadero is a secondary-level wastewater treatment plant located in Los Colomos, within the municipality of Comala, Colima, Mexico. The facility serves a small population of approximately 365 people, reflecting its role in a rural or semi-rural community. Its address along Carretera Cofradía-Remudadero places it in the western region of Mexico, near the Pacific coast but at an inland distance exceeding 50 kilometers. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process for reducing organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 172.80 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 34.56 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well below its capacity. In Mexico, wastewater treatment plants are regulated under the Ley de Aguas Nacionales and Normas Oficiales Mexicanas (NOMs), which set discharge standards for pollutants. For small communities, secondary treatment is typically sufficient to meet these standards. The treated effluent from El Remudadero is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Pacific Ocean via the Armería River basin. The region's hydrology supports agricultural activities and diverse ecosystems. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and aquatic life, particularly in the context of Mexico's efforts to improve sanitation coverage and reduce water pollution.

The plant discharges into the Armería River basin, which flows westward to the Pacific Ocean. This watershed supports agricultural irrigation and provides habitat for native fish and bird species. The region's tropical climate and seasonal rainfall influence runoff patterns, making consistent treatment important for maintaining downstream water quality and ecological balance.