San Miguel de Cruces Wastewater Treatment Plant, Atoyaderos, Durango, Mexico

San Miguel de Cruces is a wastewater treatment plant located in Atoyaderos, within the municipality of San Dimas, Durango, Mexico. It serves a small population of 913 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or semi-urban community. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and operates under Mexico's national water management framework. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for municipal wastewater in Mexico, which typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 259.20 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 86.40 m³/day, the facility operates below its full capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variability. As a small-scale plant, it falls under regulatory oversight by Mexican authorities such as CONAGUA, which enforces discharge standards to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Pacific Ocean via the region's hydrological network. The plant's operation helps safeguard downstream ecosystems, including rivers and coastal areas, from untreated sewage. Given its inland location and secondary treatment, the facility contributes to reducing pollution in the watershed, supporting both human and ecological health in the region.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow through the Sierra Madre Occidental and eventually reach the Pacific Ocean via the Presidio River or similar basin. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and communities downstream. The secondary treatment reduces organic load and pathogens, helping to maintain water quality in a region where seasonal rainfall can affect runoff and dilution capacity.