Overview
El Rey wastewater treatment plant serves Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico, with a designed capacity of 1.00 unit. It supports a population of 63,891 and is located within 50 km of the coast.
El Rey is a wastewater treatment plant located in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico, serving a population of approximately 63,891. The plant is situated in the Mercado 28 area on Avenida XelHa, within the municipality of Benito Juárez. As a facility in a major tourist destination, it plays a key role in managing municipal wastewater from the city's residential and commercial zones. Which are enforced by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA). For agglomerations of this size, Mexican law requires at least secondary treatment to protect water quality. The plant is expected to comply with applicable discharge standards. The treated effluent from El Rey likely discharges into the Caribbean Sea via local drainage channels or underground aquifers, given Cancún's coastal karst geology. The region supports sensitive marine ecosystems, including coral reefs and seagrass beds, which depend on effective wastewater management to prevent nutrient pollution and protect biodiversity.
Environmental context
El Rey plant is located in Cancún on the Yucatán Peninsula, a karst region where wastewater can quickly infiltrate the aquifer and reach the Caribbean Sea. The receiving environment includes the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second-largest coral reef in the world, which is highly sensitive to nutrient loading and pathogens. Proper treatment is critical to prevent eutrophication and protect marine life, including sea turtles and fish populations that rely on healthy coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
El Rey plant is located in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico, at Mercado 28 on Avenida XelHa, in the Benito Juárez municipality.
El Rey serves a population of approximately 63,891 people in the Cancún area.
El Rey operates under Mexico's federal water law, enforced by CONAGUA, which mandates secondary treatment for plants serving over 50,000 people to protect water quality.
For agglomerations of this size, Mexican regulations require at least secondary treatment, often including biological processes like activated sludge, to meet discharge standards for coastal protection.
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