Overview
Santo Tomás Mazaltepec wastewater treatment plant in Oaxaca, Mexico, serves 913 people with secondary treatment. It discharges 86.40 cubic meters daily, operating under Mexican water regulations.
The Santo Tomás Mazaltepec wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Santo Tomás Mazaltepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. It serves a small population of 913 residents, reflecting its role as a local municipal facility in a rural or semi-urban setting. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and its operations are part of the regional water infrastructure in Oaxaca. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under Mexican regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT) for municipal wastewater before discharge. It has a designed capacity of 86.40 cubic meters per day, and the reported discharge volume matches this capacity, indicating full utilization. For a small community of this size, secondary treatment is appropriate to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies, likely tributaries of the Papaloapan or Atoyac River basins, which ultimately drain into the Gulf of Mexico. The plant helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and water quality in the region, supporting both environmental health and community water resources.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into local streams that feed into the Papaloapan River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and fisheries. The secondary treatment reduces organic load and suspended solids, mitigating eutrophication risks in downstream water bodies.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Santo Tomás Mazaltepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, at Calle Allende. It serves the local community in this rural municipality.
The plant serves a population of 913 people, making it a small-scale municipal facility designed for a rural community.
The plant uses secondary treatment, which involves biological processes to break down organic matter. This is the standard treatment level required by Mexican regulations for municipal wastewater.
The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that are part of the Papaloapan River basin, which flows to the Gulf of Mexico. The plant helps protect these water bodies from pollution.
The plant operates under Mexico's NOM-001-SEMARNAT standard, which sets discharge limits for pollutants. For a small community, secondary treatment is typical to meet these requirements and protect water quality.
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