Poblado C 23 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Tabasco, Mexico

Poblado C 23 is a wastewater treatment plant located in the community of Poblado C-23 General Venustiano Carranza, in the municipality of Cárdenas, Tabasco, Mexico. The plant serves a population of 2,191 and operates with secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in the region. Its designed capacity is 570.24 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of 207.36 m³/day. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant reduces organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. In Mexico, wastewater treatment plants are regulated under the National Water Law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets maximum permissible limits for pollutants in discharges to national waters. For small agglomerations like Poblado C 23, secondary treatment is typically sufficient to meet these standards. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its treated effluent likely drains into the Gulf of Mexico via local waterways. The region's tropical climate and flat terrain support diverse aquatic ecosystems, including mangroves and coastal lagoons, which are sensitive to nutrient loading. Proper treatment helps protect these habitats from eutrophication and other pollution impacts.

The plant's discharge enters local streams that flow into the Grijalva River delta and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. This coastal region supports important mangrove forests and seagrass beds, which provide nursery habitat for fish and crustaceans. Nutrient-rich discharges could contribute to algal blooms and hypoxia in nearshore waters, making secondary treatment essential for maintaining water quality.