San Miguel Afuera Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jalapa, Tabasco

San Miguel Afuera is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Jalapa, Tabasco, Mexico. It serves a population of approximately 3,651 people, classifying it as a small-scale facility within the region's water management infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process for removing organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 432.00 volume units and a discharge volume of 345.60 volume units, the plant operates at a utilization rate that suggests adequate capacity for its service area. Under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 and subsequent updates), secondary treatment is required for municipal wastewater to meet discharge standards for receiving water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into local waterways that ultimately drain into the Grijalva River basin, one of Mexico's most significant hydrological systems. This basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and provides water for agriculture and communities in Tabasco. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting downstream water quality and public health in the region.

The plant discharges into the Grijalva River basin, which flows through Tabasco into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of aquatic life and is an important resource for local communities. The secondary treatment process helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, mitigating impacts on downstream ecosystems and maintaining water quality for agricultural and domestic use.