Santa Cruz de Miramar Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nayarit, Mexico

Santa Cruz de Miramar is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the coastal town of Santa Cruz de Miramar, within the municipality of San Blas, Nayarit, Mexico. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,738 residents, reflecting its role in a small coastal community. It operates with a designed capacity of 535.68 m³/day and currently treats 259.20 m³/day of wastewater. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level required under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996) for municipal wastewater discharge. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment ensures removal of organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the basic environmental standards for coastal discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment near the Pacific Ocean. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can affect coastal water quality and marine ecosystems. The region supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the larger Pacific coastal watershed, which includes estuaries and mangroves important for biodiversity.

The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Pacific coastal zone near San Blas, Nayarit. This area drains into the Pacific Ocean, supporting mangrove forests and estuaries that serve as critical habitats for fish, crustaceans, and migratory birds. The coastal waters are ecologically sensitive, and the plant's secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient and pathogen loads to protect marine life and local fisheries.