Tanques Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sinaloa, Mexico - Coastal Secondary Treatment Facility

The Tanques wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Tanques, within the municipality of Elota, Sinaloa, Mexico. It serves a population of approximately 1,876 people, classifying it as a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated near the Pacific coast, less than 10 kilometers inland. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level for municipal wastewater in Mexico under the national regulatory framework (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996). It has a designed capacity of 302.40 m³/day and currently treats a daily volume of 250.56 m³, indicating it operates below its full capacity. The plant's discharge volume and coastal proximity are key factors in its environmental management. Treated effluent from the plant likely discharges into local watercourses that drain into the Pacific Ocean, contributing to the coastal watershed of Sinaloa. The region's coastal ecosystems, including estuaries and mangrove habitats, depend on maintaining water quality to support diverse marine life and local fisheries. Proper treatment helps mitigate nutrient loading and pathogen risks to these sensitive environments.

The plant discharges into the Pacific coastal watershed of Sinaloa, with effluent likely reaching the ocean via local arroyos or the nearby Elota River. The coastal zone supports ecologically significant habitats such as estuaries and mangrove forests, which are vital for fish nurseries and migratory birds. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to protect these ecosystems from eutrophication and pathogen contamination.