Santa María Amealco 2 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hidalgo, Mexico

Santa María Amealco 2 is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Santa María Amealco, a community in the municipality of Chapantongo, Hidalgo, Mexico. The plant serves a population of 1,510 and operates with a designed capacity of 172.80 cubic meters per day, treating wastewater to secondary level. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting Mexican regulatory standards (NOM-001-SEMARNAT) for discharge into water bodies. The design volume aligns with the small population served. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Pánuco River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This region supports agricultural activities and small-scale ecosystems, making proper wastewater treatment essential for protecting downstream water quality and aquatic life.

The plant discharges into the Pánuco River basin, which flows through central Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats and is used for irrigation and livestock watering. Effective secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and pathogen loads, protecting both local streams and the downstream coastal environment from eutrophication and contamination.