Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jalisco, Mexico

The Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility serving the town of Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Located in the Región Centro, the plant serves a population of approximately 6,924 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment facility within the national wastewater infrastructure. As a Mexican wastewater treatment plant, it operates under the national regulatory framework established by the Comisión Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA) and the Ley de Aguas Nacionales. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is typically required to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The regulatory context ensures compliance with national water quality standards. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Lerma-Santiago river system. This region is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water resources for agricultural and urban uses downstream. Proper treatment is essential to protect water quality in the sensitive coastal environment.

The plant discharges into the Lerma-Santiago basin, which flows into the Pacific Ocean. This watershed supports a variety of aquatic ecosystems and is important for regional biodiversity. The proximity to the coast (within 50 km) means that treated effluent can influence coastal water quality, necessitating effective nutrient removal to prevent eutrophication in downstream water bodies.