Mezquitic Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jalisco, Mexico

The Mezquitic wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Mezquitic, in the Región Norte of Jalisco, Mexico. It serves a population of 2,914, classifying it as a small-scale municipal facility. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process for removing organic matter and suspended solids from domestic wastewater. With a designed capacity of 432 m³/day and a discharge volume matching that figure, the plant operates at full capacity. Under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996), secondary treatment is required for discharges into national waters, and the plant's performance is monitored by the Comisión Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA). The facility's operational status is consistent with active service. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Río Grande de Santiago basin, eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean via the Río Santiago and Río Lerma systems. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and communities downstream. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this semi-arid region of northern Jalisco.

The plant discharges into the Río Grande de Santiago basin, which flows through the Sierra Madre Occidental and into the Pacific Ocean. This watershed supports a variety of freshwater species and is an important water source for local agriculture. The region's semi-arid climate means that maintaining water quality is critical for both ecological health and human use, especially during dry seasons when river flows are reduced.