Jilotepec Wastewater Treatment Plant, Aguascalientes, Mexico

The Jilotepec wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Jilotepec, within the municipality of Asientos, Aguascalientes, Mexico. It serves a small population of 447 residents, reflecting its role as a local facility for a rural community. The plant is situated in the semi-arid highlands of central Mexico, an area characterized by seasonal rainfall and limited surface water resources. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process for municipal wastewater in Mexico under the national water law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales). Its designed capacity is 172.80 thousand cubic meters per year, and it currently treats 42.34 thousand cubic meters annually, indicating operational headroom. Mexican regulations require treated effluent to meet quality standards for discharge into water bodies, with oversight by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA). The treated wastewater is discharged into local streams that eventually drain into the Río San Pedro, a tributary of the Río Grande de Santiago, which flows into the Pacific Ocean. The plant helps protect downstream water quality in a region where agriculture and livestock farming are primary economic activities, reducing the risk of contamination from untreated sewage.

The plant discharges into local arroyos (seasonal streams) that feed the Río San Pedro, part of the Río Grande de Santiago basin. This river system flows through the states of Aguascalientes and Jalisco before reaching the Pacific Ocean. The region's semi-arid climate means that water resources are scarce, and maintaining water quality is critical for agricultural irrigation and ecosystem health. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and pathogens, supporting aquatic life in downstream water bodies.