Emiliano Zapata Wastewater Treatment Plant, Durango, Mexico

The Emiliano Zapata wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Emiliano Zapata, within the municipality of Cuencamé, Durango, Mexico. It serves a population of 2,276, classifying it as a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and its operations are part of the local water infrastructure managed under Mexican environmental law. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required for municipal wastewater in Mexico under the NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 regulation. With a designed capacity of 414.72 thousand cubic meters per year and an actual discharge volume of 233.28 thousand cubic meters, the plant operates at about 56% capacity. This indicates room for future growth or seasonal variations in flow. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Nazas River basin, a vital water source for the arid region of Durango. The Nazas River flows into the Laguna de Mayrán, an endorheic basin that supports agricultural irrigation and local ecosystems. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and the ecological health of this sensitive watershed.

The plant discharges into the Nazas River basin, which flows into the Laguna de Mayrán, a closed basin in the Chihuahuan Desert. This region is ecologically sensitive due to its arid climate and reliance on limited water resources. The treated effluent supports downstream agricultural use and helps maintain base flows in the river, which is critical for local biodiversity, including migratory birds and endemic fish species.