La Noria Wastewater Treatment Plant, Huimilpan, Querétaro, Mexico

La Noria is a wastewater treatment plant located in Huimilpan, Querétaro, Mexico. It serves a small population of 1,652 people, reflecting its role in a rural or peri-urban community. The plant is situated in the central highlands of Mexico, an area characterized by semi-arid climate and seasonal rainfall. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level for municipal wastewater in Mexico under NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 regulations. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 216 cubic meters per day and currently treats 156.38 cubic meters per day, indicating it operates below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies, likely contributing to the Lerma-Santiago basin or the Pánuco basin, which ultimately drain into the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operation helps protect local water quality and supports the ecological health of the region's rivers and streams.

The plant discharges into the local watershed, which is part of the Lerma-Santiago or Pánuco basin, depending on the exact drainage divide in Querétaro. These basins support diverse aquatic life and are important for agriculture and human consumption downstream. The semi-arid climate makes water quality management critical for maintaining ecosystem health and water availability.