Potrero de Chaidez Wastewater Treatment Plant, Tepehuanes, Durango, Mexico

Potrero de Chaidez is a wastewater treatment plant located in the rural community of Portero de Chaídez, within the municipality of Tepehuanes, Durango, Mexico. It serves a small population of 154 residents, reflecting its role in a sparsely populated area. The plant is situated inland, far from coastal zones, and operates under Mexico's national water quality regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process for reducing organic matter and suspended solids. It has a designed capacity of 120.96 m³/day and currently treats 43.20 m³/day, indicating it operates below its full capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Pacific Ocean via the Rio Grande de Santiago basin. The plant plays a critical role in protecting downstream water quality and ecosystems, particularly in a region where agriculture and livestock are prevalent. Proper treatment helps prevent nutrient pollution and pathogen release into sensitive arid-land streams.

The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Rio Grande de Santiago watershed, which flows westward through the Sierra Madre Occidental and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. This region is characterized by semi-arid climate and seasonal rainfall, making water resources scarce and ecologically sensitive. The receiving water bodies support diverse aquatic life and are important for local agriculture and livestock. Effective wastewater treatment is essential to prevent contamination of these fragile ecosystems and to maintain water quality for downstream communities.