Tuxcueca Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jalisco, Mexico

The Tuxcueca wastewater treatment plant serves the town of Tuxcueca in the Región Ciénega of Jalisco, Mexico. It is a small-scale facility designed for a population of 2,425, with a designed capacity of 1,036.80 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 604.80 m³/day. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is appropriate for its size and the local regulatory framework. As a Mexican wastewater facility, Tuxcueca operates under the national water law (Ley de Aguas Nacionales) and is subject to standards such as NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996, which sets maximum permissible limits for pollutants in treated wastewater. For small communities, secondary treatment is typically required to protect receiving water bodies. The plant's capacity utilization is moderate, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the Lake Chapala basin, Mexico's largest freshwater lake. Lake Chapala is a critical ecological and economic resource, supporting fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. The plant's proximity to the lake (within 10 km of the coast) underscores the importance of effective treatment to prevent nutrient loading and protect water quality. The lake drains into the Río Santiago, which eventually flows to the Pacific Ocean.

Tuxcueca's treated wastewater enters the Lake Chapala watershed, the largest lake in Mexico. Lake Chapala is a vital freshwater resource that supports diverse aquatic life and migratory birds. The lake's outflow feeds the Río Santiago, which travels through Jalisco and Nayarit before reaching the Pacific Ocean. Protecting water quality in this basin is essential for maintaining ecological balance and supporting local communities that depend on the lake for drinking water, irrigation, and recreation.