Loma Linda Wastewater Treatment Plant, San Juan del Río, Querétaro

Loma Linda is a wastewater treatment plant located in San Juan del Río, Querétaro, Mexico. It serves a small community of 3,651 people, providing secondary treatment to manage municipal wastewater. The plant is situated inland, far from coastal areas, and operates as part of the region's water infrastructure. The plant has a designed capacity of 432.00 m³/day and currently treats 345.60 m³/day, indicating a capacity utilization of 80%. Under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996), secondary treatment is the standard for municipal wastewater, ensuring removal of organic matter and suspended solids. The plant's performance aligns with national norms for small agglomerations. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Pánuco River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This downstream connection highlights the plant's role in protecting water quality in the region, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream communities.

The plant's discharge enters the local drainage network, which is part of the Pánuco River basin. This basin ultimately drains into the Gulf of Mexico, a major marine ecosystem. The region's semi-arid climate makes water resources critical for both human use and ecological health. Secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads, preventing eutrophication in downstream water bodies and supporting biodiversity in the riverine and coastal environments.