San Rafael Sur Wastewater Treatment Plant, San Rafael, Chihuahua

San Rafael Sur is a wastewater treatment plant located in San Rafael, a community in the municipality of Urique, Chihuahua, Mexico. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,287 people, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this rural area. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for communities of this size under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996). With a designed capacity of 216.00 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 172.80 cubic meters per day, the plant operates below its full capacity, indicating adequate headroom for current demand. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Pacific Ocean via the Fuerte River system. The region's mountainous terrain and seasonal rainfall patterns influence water quality management, and the plant's operation helps protect downstream aquatic habitats and water resources.

The plant's discharge enters the local drainage network, which flows into the Rio Fuerte basin and eventually reaches the Gulf of California. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and fisheries. The secondary treatment process reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, mitigating impacts on downstream ecosystems.