Poblado Mecatepec Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mecatepec, Tabasco

Poblado Mecatepec is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the town of Mecatepec, within the municipality of Huimanguillo, Tabasco, Mexico. The plant serves a population of 1,825 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this small community. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) for discharges into water bodies. With a designed capacity of 259.20 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 172.80 cubic meters per day, the facility operates below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Grijalva River basin, one of Mexico's most significant hydrological systems. This basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and provides water for agriculture and communities downstream before reaching the Gulf of Mexico.

The plant discharges into the Grijalva River basin, which flows through the state of Tabasco and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed is ecologically important, supporting wetlands and mangrove forests that provide habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife. The secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, protecting downstream water quality and aquatic life.