Ribera del Rio Wastewater Treatment Plant, José Cardel, Veracruz, Mexico

Ribera del Rio is a wastewater treatment plant located in José Cardel, within the municipality of La Antigua, Veracruz, Mexico. The plant serves a population of 2,738 and is situated near the Gulf of Mexico coast, less than 10 kilometers inland. It operates under Mexico's national water regulations, which require secondary treatment for municipal wastewater to protect public health and the environment. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 518.40 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 259.20 m³/day, the facility operates at about half its capacity, indicating room for future growth. Secondary treatment typically involves activated sludge or similar biological systems. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the coastal environment and the nearby La Antigua River basin from untreated sewage. Its operation helps maintain water quality in the region, which supports diverse aquatic life and local communities dependent on fisheries and tourism.

The plant discharges into local waterways that flow into the Gulf of Mexico, a major marine ecosystem. The region's coastal wetlands and estuaries provide critical habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife. By treating wastewater to secondary standards, the plant reduces nutrient and pathogen loads, helping to prevent eutrophication and protect the health of the Gulf's coastal waters, which are important for fishing and recreation.