Pozo de Jarillas Wastewater Treatment Plant, Zacatecas, Mexico

Pozo de Jarillas is a wastewater treatment plant located in the municipality of Ojocaliente, Zacatecas, Mexico. It serves a small community of 1,369 people, reflecting its role in managing local domestic wastewater in a semi-arid region of central Mexico. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process for reducing organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 216.00 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 129.60 cubic meters per day, it operates below its full capacity. In Mexico, wastewater treatment plants are regulated under the National Water Law and NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets discharge limits for pollutants into national waters. The treated effluent is likely discharged into a local arroyo or intermittent stream that feeds into the broader hydrological network of the Zacatecas region. This area is part of the endorheic basin of the Mexican Plateau, where water resources are scarce and sensitive to pollution. Proper treatment helps protect local groundwater and surface water quality, supporting agricultural and ecological needs.

The plant discharges into a local watercourse that drains into the endorheic basin of the Mexican Plateau, where water bodies are often seasonal and ecologically sensitive. The region's semi-arid climate means that maintaining water quality is critical for supporting limited aquatic life and downstream agricultural uses. The treated effluent contributes to the local water balance, reducing the risk of contamination in a water-scarce environment.