Jalpilla Wastewater Treatment Plant, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

Jalpilla wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Axtla de Terrazas, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, along the Carretera Federal México-Laredo. It serves a population of 5,476, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Mexican wastewater regulations. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal zones, and operates within the context of Mexico's national water management framework. The plant employs secondary treatment, which is the standard level required for municipal wastewater in Mexico under NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996. With a designed capacity of 518.40 volume units and a discharge volume matching that figure, the plant operates at full capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies, likely tributaries of the Pánuco River basin, which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operation helps protect downstream ecosystems and water quality in the region, supporting agricultural and community water uses in the Huasteca Potosina area.

The plant discharges into the Pánuco River basin, which flows through the Huasteca region and ultimately reaches the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for irrigation and domestic use. The secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants, helping to maintain the ecological health of the river system and downstream coastal waters.