El Trapiche II Wastewater Treatment Plant, Colima, Mexico

El Trapiche II is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the town of El Trapiche, within the municipality of Cuauhtémoc, Colima, Mexico. The plant serves a population of 913 residents, making it a small-scale facility in the region. It operates under Mexico's national water quality regulations, which require secondary treatment for urban wastewater before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 172.80 cubic meters per day and currently treats an average of 86.40 cubic meters per day, operating at approximately 50% of its capacity. The treatment process is secondary, which typically involves biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. As a small plant in an inland area, it is not subject to the more stringent tertiary requirements often applied to coastal or sensitive watersheds. The treated effluent from El Trapiche II is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Pacific Ocean via the Armería River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality, particularly for agricultural and ecological uses in the Colima region. Its operation supports the health of local streams and the broader hydrological network.

El Trapiche II discharges into local streams that are part of the Armería River basin, which flows westward to the Pacific Ocean. The Armería River supports diverse aquatic life and is important for irrigation in the region. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in downstream water bodies. The area's tropical climate and seasonal rainfall patterns influence flow variability, making consistent treatment essential for maintaining ecological balance.