San Nicolás de Ibarra Wastewater Treatment Plant, Chapala, Jalisco

San Nicolás de Ibarra wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of San Nicolás de Ibarra, within the municipality of Chapala in Jalisco, Mexico. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,860 residents and operates with a designed capacity of 691.20 cubic meters per day, currently discharging 777.60 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants before discharge. The plant operates under Mexico's national water regulations, which require wastewater treatment for municipal discharges. For a community of this size, secondary treatment is typical and aligns with standards set by the Comisión Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA). The facility's discharge volume slightly exceeds its designed capacity, indicating it is operating at full capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake. Lake Chapala is an ecologically significant water body that supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for irrigation and human consumption in the region. The plant's proximity to the lake underscores the importance of effective treatment to protect water quality and the surrounding ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the Lake Chapala basin, the largest freshwater lake in Mexico. The lake supports a rich ecosystem, including endemic fish species and migratory birds. Downstream, the lake drains into the Río Grande de Santiago, which flows through the Pacific slope to the Pacific Ocean. Protecting water quality in this watershed is critical for regional biodiversity and human water use.