Overview
La Escondida wastewater treatment plant in Guanajuato, Mexico, serves 1,837 people with secondary treatment. It discharges 294.62 cubic meters per day, operating under Mexico's national water regulations.
La Escondida is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the town of La Escondida, within the municipality of Ocampo, Guanajuato, Mexico. The facility serves a population of approximately 1,837 residents, reflecting a small-scale agglomeration typical of rural communities in central Mexico. Its address on Calle Río Lerma places it within the Lerma River basin, a major hydrological region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process for reducing organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity and actual discharge volume of 294.62 cubic meters per day, the facility operates at full capacity. Under Mexico's national water law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, secondary treatment is required for discharges into rivers and streams to meet water quality criteria. Treated effluent from La Escondida likely discharges into a tributary of the Lerma River, which flows into Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake, and eventually into the Pacific Ocean via the Santiago River. The Lerma-Chapala basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for agriculture and urban centers. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in this sensitive watershed.
Environmental context
La Escondida lies within the Lerma River basin, a critical waterway in central Mexico. The Lerma River flows into Lake Chapala, the country's largest natural lake, which supports a rich ecosystem including endemic fish species and migratory birds. Downstream, the Santiago River carries water from Lake Chapala to the Pacific Ocean. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollution, helping to maintain the ecological health of this interconnected system, which faces pressures from agricultural runoff and urban development.
Frequently asked questions
La Escondida plant is located at 104 Calle Río Lerma, in the town of La Escondida, Ocampo, Guanajuato, Mexico.
The plant serves approximately 1,837 people, classifying it as a small-scale municipal facility.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local watercourse within the Lerma River basin, which ultimately flows into Lake Chapala and the Pacific Ocean.
La Escondida provides secondary treatment, a biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids to meet Mexican water quality standards.
The plant operates under Mexico's Ley de Aguas Nacionales and NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which set discharge limits for pollutants. Secondary treatment is typical for small communities to comply with these standards.
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