Hotel Reef Wastewater Treatment Plant, San Miguel de Cozumel, Quintana Roo

Hotel Reef is a wastewater treatment plant located in San Miguel de Cozumel on the island of Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico. The plant serves a population of 4,564 and operates with secondary treatment, a standard level for municipal facilities in coastal tourist areas. Its designed capacity and discharge volume are both 432 m³/day, indicating full utilization. As a secondary treatment plant, Hotel Reef meets the basic requirements under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) for discharge into coastal waters. The plant's coastal location within 10 km of the Caribbean Sea means it must comply with stringent effluent standards to protect marine ecosystems. No specific permit details are available, but Mexican plants are regulated by CONAGUA and state environmental authorities. The treated wastewater from Hotel Reef is discharged into the Caribbean Sea, which supports diverse coral reefs, seagrass beds, and marine life. Cozumel is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second-largest barrier reef in the world, making proper wastewater treatment critical for preserving water quality and biodiversity. The plant plays a key role in reducing nutrient and pathogen loads that could harm the reef ecosystem.

Hotel Reef discharges treated wastewater into the Caribbean Sea near Cozumel, an island within the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. This reef system supports high biodiversity, including coral species, fish, and sea turtles. Nutrient and pathogen inputs from coastal plants can lead to eutrophication and coral disease, so secondary treatment is essential for protecting the reef's health and the local tourism economy.