Santo Domingo Huehuetlán Wastewater Treatment Plant, Puebla, Mexico

The Santo Domingo Huehuetlán wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Huehuetlán el Grande, Puebla, Mexico. It serves a population of 2,308 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated inland, approximately 50 km from the coast, and operates under Mexico's national water regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required for municipal wastewater in Mexico under NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996. It has a designed capacity of 311.04 cubic meters per day, matching the reported discharge volume. This suggests the facility operates at full capacity, treating all incoming wastewater to meet effluent quality standards before discharge. The treated effluent is released into local water bodies that drain toward the Pacific Ocean via the Balsas River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems from untreated sewage, reducing organic load and pathogens in the region's water resources.

The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Balsas River basin, which flows into the Pacific Ocean. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive due to seasonal rainfall patterns and agricultural runoff. The plant's secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient pollution and protects downstream water quality in this semi-arid region of Puebla.