Santa María Texmelucan Wastewater Treatment Plant, Puebla, Mexico

Santa María Texmelucan wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Tlahuapan, Puebla, Mexico, serving the community of Santa María Texmelucan. The plant provides secondary treatment for a population of approximately 5,476 residents, with a designed capacity of 432.00 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 518.40 m³/day. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant meets the standard level of treatment required under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT), which sets discharge limits for municipal wastewater. For a small agglomeration of this size, secondary treatment is appropriate and ensures compliance with national water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies within the Puebla region, ultimately contributing to the Balsas River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream ecosystems and water resources in central Mexico, supporting both environmental health and community water reuse.

The plant discharges into local streams that feed into the Balsas River basin, one of Mexico's major hydrological systems. The Balsas River flows southwestward into the Pacific Ocean, supporting diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities. The region's semi-arid climate makes water quality management critical for maintaining ecological balance and downstream water availability.