Planta 1 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

Planta 1 is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Real de Catorce, a town in the state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. The plant serves a population of about 2,282 people, classifying it as a small-scale treatment facility within the country's water infrastructure network. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required for municipal wastewater in Mexico under the National Water Law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets discharge limits for pollutants. With a designed capacity of 399.17 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 259.20 m³/day, the plant operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment, likely into an intermittent stream or arroyo typical of the semi-arid region. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and public health in this remote, high-altitude desert community.

Real de Catorce lies in a semi-arid region of the Sierra Madre Oriental, where water resources are scarce and ecologically sensitive. The treated wastewater from Planta 1 likely discharges into an ephemeral stream that feeds into the Pánuco River basin, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water supply, making proper treatment essential to prevent contamination of downstream ecosystems.