Puerta de Palmillas Wastewater Treatment Plant - Querétaro, Mexico

Puerta de Palmillas is a wastewater treatment plant located in the municipality of San Juan del Río, Querétaro, Mexico. It serves a small population of 1,095 residents, reflecting its role in a smaller community within the state. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and contributes to local water management in the region. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level required under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) for municipal wastewater. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 432.00 m³/day and currently discharges 103.68 m³/day, indicating it operates well below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies, likely tributaries of the San Juan River, which flows into the Pánuco River and eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality and supports the ecological health of the region's freshwater systems.

The plant discharges into the San Juan River basin, part of the larger Pánuco River watershed that drains into the Gulf of Mexico. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for local agriculture and water supply. The secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants, helping to maintain water quality in downstream ecosystems.