Jose Maria Patoni Wastewater Treatment Plant, Durango, Mexico

The Jose Maria Patoni wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of José María Patoni, within the municipality of San Juan del Río in the state of Durango, Mexico. This facility serves a small population of approximately 548 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for a rural community. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process for removing organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 129.60 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 51.84 cubic meters per day, the plant operates below its full capacity. Under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 and subsequent updates), secondary treatment is required for discharges into national waters to meet quality standards. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local hydrological system, which ultimately drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Nazas River basin. The region is semi-arid, so the plant's operation is crucial for protecting local water resources and supporting downstream ecosystems, including agricultural areas that rely on the river for irrigation.

The plant discharges into the Nazas River basin, which flows through Durango and Coahuila before reaching the Laguna District, an important agricultural region. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for irrigation, making the plant's secondary treatment essential for maintaining water quality in this semi-arid watershed.