Overview
Santa Catarina wastewater treatment plant in Guanajuato, Mexico, provides secondary treatment for a small community of 2,282 residents, discharging 216 cubic meters per day.
The Santa Catarina wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Santa Catarina, within the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. It serves a small population of approximately 2,282 people, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this rural community. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process for removing organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 216 cubic meters per day and a discharge volume matching that figure, the facility is operating at full capacity. As a small-scale plant in Mexico, it falls under national water quality regulations administered by CONAGUA (Comisión Nacional del Agua), which sets discharge standards to protect water resources. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Lerma River basin, a major hydrological system in central Mexico. The Lerma River flows into Lake Chapala, Mexico's largest freshwater lake, which supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for irrigation and human consumption. Proper treatment at plants like Santa Catarina helps reduce nutrient and pathogen loads, safeguarding downstream ecosystems and water quality.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Lerma River basin, which flows into Lake Chapala, a critical freshwater resource in central Mexico. The lake supports a variety of fish species and migratory birds, making it ecologically sensitive. Effective secondary treatment reduces organic pollution and nutrients, helping to prevent eutrophication and protect downstream water quality for communities and agriculture.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on Calle Morelos in the Zona Centro of Santa Catarina, Guanajuato, Mexico.
The plant serves a population of 2,282 residents in the town of Santa Catarina.
The plant uses secondary treatment, a biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
The treated effluent flows into the Lerma River basin, which ultimately drains into Lake Chapala, a major freshwater lake in Mexico.
Small plants like Santa Catarina are regulated by CONAGUA under the National Water Law, which sets discharge standards for BOD, TSS, and other parameters to protect water quality.
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