San Bernardo Wastewater Treatment Plant, Durango, Mexico

San Bernardo wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of San Bernardo, Durango, Mexico. It serves a population of approximately 1,027 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process for removing organic matter and suspended solids from domestic wastewater. With a designed capacity of 432.00 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 103.68 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well below its capacity. This suggests the facility is sized to accommodate future growth or seasonal peak flows. As a Mexican plant, it falls under the national water quality regulations administered by CONAGUA (Comisión Nacional del Agua), which sets discharge standards for municipal wastewater. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Pacific Ocean via the Nazas-Aguanaval basin system. The region is semi-arid, so the plant plays a crucial role in protecting local water quality and supporting downstream ecosystems, including agricultural areas and wildlife habitats.

The plant discharges into the Nazas-Aguanaval basin, which drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Nazas River and the Laguna de Mayran system. This semi-arid region relies on limited surface water resources, making the plant's treatment essential for maintaining water quality in downstream rivers and reservoirs. The effluent supports agricultural irrigation and sustains aquatic habitats in an area where water scarcity is a concern.