San Martin Totoltepec Wastewater Treatment Plant, Xochiltepec, Puebla

San Martin Totoltepec is a wastewater treatment plant located in Xochiltepec, within the municipality of San Martin Totoltepec, Puebla, Mexico. The plant serves a small population of 1,369 residents, providing secondary treatment to meet local sanitation needs. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and operates as part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure. The plant employs secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 302.40 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 129.60 cubic meters per day, it operates at approximately 43% capacity. As a small-scale facility in Mexico, it is subject to national water quality standards (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) that regulate pollutant discharges into receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Balsas River basin, one of Mexico's major hydrological systems. The Balsas River flows southwest to the Pacific Ocean, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and agricultural communities along its course. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality and ecological health.

The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Balsas River basin, which drains into the Pacific Ocean. The Balsas River supports a variety of aquatic life and is an important water source for irrigation in the region. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants, helping to maintain the ecological balance of the watershed and protect downstream habitats.