Sistema Lagunar Janos Wastewater Treatment Plant, Monte Verde (Altamira), Chihuahua

Sistema Lagunar Janos is a wastewater treatment plant located in Monte Verde (Altamira), within the municipality of Janos, Chihuahua, Mexico. The facility serves a small population of 456 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or semi-rural community. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's designed capacity is 259.20 units, with an actual discharge volume of 43.20 units, indicating operation well below capacity. In Mexico, wastewater treatment plants are regulated under the National Water Law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets limits for pollutants in treated wastewater. For small communities, secondary treatment is typical to meet these standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment, likely into an arroyo or seasonal stream that drains into the larger Rio Casas Grandes basin. This region is part of the Chihuahuan Desert, where water resources are scarce and sensitive. The plant's operation helps protect local groundwater and surface water from untreated sewage, supporting the arid ecosystem and downstream communities.

The plant discharges into the Rio Casas Grandes watershed, which flows through the Chihuahuan Desert and eventually into the Bolson de los Fierros, an endorheic basin. This arid region has limited surface water, making the protection of water quality critical for local wildlife and agricultural use. The treated effluent supports the fragile desert ecosystem, which includes species adapted to intermittent water flows.