Overview
Santa Cruz wastewater treatment plant in Tabasco, Mexico, serves 1,646 people with secondary treatment and a designed capacity of 432 m³/day.
The Santa Cruz wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Santa Cruz, within the municipality of Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico. It serves a population of approximately 1,646 residents, classifying it as a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated in a tropical lowland region near the border with Guatemala. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) for municipal wastewater. It has a designed capacity of 432 m³/day and currently discharges 302.40 m³/day, indicating operational headroom. The facility is not within 10 km of the coast, placing it in an inland context. The treated effluent likely discharges into local waterways that drain into the Usumacinta River basin, one of Mexico's largest and most ecologically significant river systems. The Usumacinta flows into the Gulf of Mexico, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and downstream communities. The plant's operation helps protect these waters from untreated sewage pollution.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters the Usumacinta River basin, a major hydrological system in southern Mexico that flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This basin supports rich biodiversity, including tropical wetlands and fish populations. The secondary treatment provided by the plant reduces organic pollutants and pathogens, helping maintain water quality in downstream ecosystems that are important for local fisheries and wildlife.
Frequently asked questions
The Santa Cruz wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Santa Cruz, in the municipality of Tenosique, Tabasco, Mexico. Its address is Calle Olmeca, Santa Cruz, Tenosique, Tabasco.
The plant has a designed capacity of 432 m³ per day and currently treats an average of 302.40 m³ per day, serving a population of about 1,646 people.
The Santa Cruz plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required for municipal wastewater under Mexican regulations.
The plant operates under Mexico's NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 standard, which sets maximum pollutant limits for wastewater discharges into national waters. Secondary treatment is mandatory for municipal plants of this scale.
The plant's treated effluent flows into the Usumacinta River basin, a major river system that drains into the Gulf of Mexico. This helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and water quality in the region.
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