Navidad Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jalisco, Mexico

Navidad wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Navidad, within the municipality of Mascota in Jalisco's Región Sierra Occidental, Mexico. The facility serves a small population of 913 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or semi-urban community. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 86.40 cubic meters per day and currently discharges a similar volume, indicating full utilization. Under Mexico's federal water law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and NOM-001-SEMARNAT standards, secondary treatment is appropriate for small communities, ensuring compliance with discharge limits for BOD, TSS, and other parameters. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Pacific Ocean via the Ameca River basin or nearby coastal watersheds. The region's mountainous terrain and seasonal rainfall patterns influence water quality management. Proper treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and supports water reuse for agricultural or environmental purposes in this water-scarce area.

The plant's discharge enters local streams within the Sierra Occidental region, which flow toward the Pacific coast. These water bodies support diverse aquatic life and are important for local agriculture. The secondary treatment reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream rivers and coastal zones. The area's steep slopes and seasonal rains make erosion and sediment control important for maintaining water quality.