Santa Fe Wastewater Treatment Plant, Tijuana, Baja California

Santa Fe is a wastewater treatment plant serving the Zona Río area of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. With a population equivalent of approximately 11,957, it is classified as a small to medium agglomeration under Mexican water management frameworks. The plant is situated in an urbanized region near the US-Mexico border. As a Mexican facility, Santa Fe operates under the national water law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and is subject to NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets discharge limits for pollutants. The plant has a designed capacity of 1.00 volume units, indicating its intended throughput. The plant's treated effluent ultimately reaches the Tijuana River, which flows into the Pacific Ocean near the border. This coastal discharge zone is ecologically sensitive, supporting marine habitats and migratory species. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality in the Tijuana River estuary and adjacent coastal waters.

The Santa Fe plant discharges into the Tijuana River watershed, which drains into the Pacific Ocean at the Tijuana River Estuary. This coastal wetland is an important ecological area that supports diverse bird species and marine life. The estuary is subject to transboundary water quality concerns due to urban runoff and industrial discharges from both Tijuana and San Diego.