Overview
Santa Cruz 2 Ivey is a secondary wastewater treatment plant in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, serving approximately 3,094 people. It discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, contributing to the region's water management.
Santa Cruz 2 Ivey is a wastewater treatment plant located in Mérida, the capital of Yucatán, Mexico. The plant serves a population of around 3,094, making it a small-scale facility within the city's wastewater infrastructure. It is situated in the interior of the Yucatán Peninsula, more than 10 km from the coast. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard level for small communities in Mexico. With a designed capacity of 777.60 cubic meters per day and a discharge volume of 292.90 cubic meters per day, it operates well below its capacity. Mexican wastewater treatment plants are regulated under the Federal Law on Water (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets discharge limits for pollutants. The treated effluent from Santa Cruz 2 Ivey likely drains into the Yucatán's karst aquifer system, which feeds cenotes and eventually reaches the Gulf of Mexico. The region's porous limestone terrain makes groundwater particularly vulnerable to contamination, emphasizing the importance of effective treatment for protecting both local water resources and the coastal environment.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Yucatán Peninsula's karst aquifer, which flows through underground rivers and cenotes before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. This unique hydrogeology means that treated wastewater can quickly impact groundwater quality and sensitive coastal ecosystems, including mangroves and seagrass beds that support diverse marine life.
Frequently asked questions
Santa Cruz 2 Ivey is located at Calle 58, Distrito 1, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, in the interior of the Yucatán Peninsula.
The plant serves approximately 3,094 people, classifying it as a small-scale wastewater treatment facility.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local karst aquifer system, which eventually drains into the Gulf of Mexico via underground rivers and cenotes.
The plant operates under Mexico's Federal Law on Water and NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets discharge limits for pollutants to protect water quality.
Secondary treatment is standard for small communities in Mexico, as required by national regulations to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
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