San Jose Tecoh Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mérida, Yucatán

San Jose Tecoh is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Mérida area of Yucatán, Mexico. It serves a small population of 228 people, reflecting its role in a localized community within the broader urban region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is a standard biological process that significantly reduces organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 864.00 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 587.52 m³/day, the facility operates below its full capacity. In Mexico, wastewater treatment plants are regulated under the National Water Law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and the official standards NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 and NOM-002-SEMARNAT-1996, which set discharge limits for pollutants. The treated effluent is likely discharged into local water bodies that drain into the Yucatán Peninsula's karst aquifer system, which is ecologically sensitive due to its connection to cenotes and underground rivers. This region ultimately drains into the Gulf of Mexico, supporting coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrass beds.

The plant's discharge enters the Yucatán Peninsula's karstic aquifer, which feeds cenotes and underground rivers that flow toward the Gulf of Mexico. This aquifer supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical water source for the region. The downstream environment includes coastal wetlands and marine habitats that are sensitive to nutrient loading and pollution.