Las Cruces Wastewater Treatment Plant, Durango, Mexico

Las Cruces wastewater treatment plant serves the small community of Las Cruces in the municipality of Peñón Blanco, Durango, Mexico. The plant provides secondary treatment for a population of 319, with a designed capacity of 32.83 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 30.24 m³/day. As a secondary treatment facility, Las Cruces meets the standard level required for municipal wastewater in Mexico under NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets limits for pollutants in discharges to national waters. The plant's capacity utilization is high, indicating efficient operation for the community's needs. The treated effluent from Las Cruces ultimately drains into the local watershed within the Nazas River basin, which flows into the Laguna de Mayrán, an important inland wetland in the arid region of Durango. The plant helps protect local water quality and supports the ecological health of the downstream environment.

The plant discharges into the Nazas River basin, which flows into the Laguna de Mayrán, a seasonal wetland in the semi-arid region of Durango. This watershed supports local agriculture and provides habitat for migratory birds and native aquatic species. The secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, protecting the ecological balance of the downstream water bodies.