Higinio Tanguma Wastewater Treatment Plant, El Barranco, Tamaulipas

Higinio Tanguma is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in El Barranco, a locality in the municipality of Aldama, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The plant serves a small population of 777 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or peri-urban setting. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and operates under Mexico's national water regulatory framework. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level for small communities in Mexico, ensuring removal of organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 114.05 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 86.40 m³/day, the plant operates below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variations. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies, likely contributing to the Soto La Marina River basin or nearby arroyos that drain into the Gulf of Mexico. This discharge supports the local hydrological cycle but requires careful management to protect downstream ecosystems, including freshwater habitats and the coastal zone of the Gulf of Mexico, which supports diverse marine life and fisheries.

The plant discharges into local watercourses that are part of the Soto La Marina River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This coastal region supports important estuarine and marine ecosystems, including nursery habitats for fish and crustaceans. The secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution, but nutrient removal may be limited, potentially contributing to eutrophication in downstream water bodies if not adequately managed.