San Jose del Alamito Wastewater Treatment Plant, Fresnillo, Zacatecas

San Jose del Alamito is a wastewater treatment plant located in the community of San José del Alamito, within the municipality of Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico. The plant serves a population of about 1,205 people, classifying it as a small-scale facility under Mexican wastewater regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by Mexican environmental law (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) for municipal wastewater before discharge. With a designed capacity of 129.60 volume units and an actual discharge volume of 114.05 volume units, the plant operates below its design capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variability. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Rio Grande de Santiago system. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water resources and downstream ecosystems, including agricultural areas and natural habitats in the region.

The plant discharges into the local watershed within the Rio Grande de Santiago basin, which flows westward through Zacatecas and Jalisco before emptying into the Pacific Ocean. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for agriculture and local communities. The secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, mitigating impacts on downstream water quality and ecosystem health.