Overview
Salamanca wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 160,000 people in Guanajuato, Mexico. It operates under Mexican water quality regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) for discharge into the Lerma River basin.
The Salamanca wastewater treatment plant is located in the city of Salamanca, Guanajuato, Mexico, serving an estimated population of 160,320. The plant is situated in an inland area, more than 50 km from the coast, and its operations are subject to Mexican environmental standards. As a facility serving a medium-to-large agglomeration, the plant is expected to comply with Mexican Official Standard NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets maximum permissible limits for pollutants in wastewater discharges into national waters. This regulation requires treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, with more stringent limits for water bodies used for human consumption or recreation. The plant discharges into the Lerma River basin, which flows into Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake. The Lerma-Chapala basin is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for irrigation and human use. Proper treatment at Salamanca helps protect downstream water quality and ecosystem health.
Environmental context
The Salamanca plant discharges into the Lerma River, which flows into Lake Chapala, the largest freshwater lake in Mexico. This basin supports a variety of aquatic species and is an important water source for agriculture and communities. The region faces challenges from industrial and agricultural runoff, making effective wastewater treatment critical for maintaining water quality and ecological balance.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at 109 Calle Albino Garcia, Centro, Salamanca, Guanajuato, Mexico.
The plant serves approximately 160,320 people in the city of Salamanca and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Lerma River, which flows into Lake Chapala.
The plant operates under Mexican Official Standard NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets pollutant limits for wastewater discharges into national waters.
For agglomerations of this size, Mexican regulations typically require secondary treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, with possible additional nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive water bodies.
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