Los Ortices Wastewater Treatment Plant, Colima, Mexico

Los Ortices wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Los Ortices, within the municipality of Colima, Mexico. The facility serves a small population of approximately 365 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or peri-urban setting. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal zones, and its operations are part of the local water infrastructure managed by municipal authorities. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) for discharges into inland water bodies. With a designed capacity of 172.80 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 34.56 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variability. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that eventually drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Armería River basin. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality and supports the ecological health of the region's freshwater systems. As part of Mexico's water management framework, the facility is subject to discharge standards that aim to safeguard both human health and the environment.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Armería River, which ultimately reaches the Pacific Ocean. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and domestic use downstream. The region's tropical climate and seasonal rainfall patterns influence flow rates and pollutant dilution, making consistent treatment important for maintaining ecological balance.