Estacion Poanas Wastewater Treatment Plant, Estación Poanas, Durango, Mexico

Estacion Poanas is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Estación Poanas, within the municipality of Poanas, Durango, Mexico. The facility serves a small population of 456 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or semi-urban community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level required under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) for municipal wastewater. With a designed capacity of 259.20 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 43.20 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal demand. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Nazas River basin, part of the endorheic Bolsón de Mapimí region. This watershed supports agricultural activities and local ecosystems, making proper treatment essential for protecting water quality and public health.

The plant discharges into the Nazas River basin, which flows through the arid Bolsón de Mapimí region in northern Mexico. This endorheic basin does not reach the sea; instead, it terminates in internal lagoons and salt flats. The local watershed supports limited but ecologically sensitive aquatic habitats, including seasonal wetlands that provide refuge for migratory birds and endemic species. Effective secondary treatment helps prevent nutrient enrichment and contamination of these fragile water bodies.