Santa María del Río Wastewater Treatment Plant - San Luis Potosí, Mexico

The Santa María del Río wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Santa María del Río, San Luis Potosí, Mexico. It serves a population of approximately 9,127 people, making it a small-to-medium agglomeration. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and treats municipal wastewater from the local community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required for urban wastewater in Mexico under the NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 regulation. With a designed capacity of 1,296 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 864 m³/day, the plant operates at about 67% capacity. This indicates adequate capacity for current demand, with room for future growth. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Pánuco River basin and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality and aquatic ecosystems in the region, which supports diverse freshwater species and agricultural activities.

The plant discharges into the local drainage network within the Pánuco River basin, which flows eastward to the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports a variety of aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and water supply. Secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids, mitigating impacts on downstream ecosystems and human water uses.