Villa de Etla Wastewater Treatment Plant, Oaxaca, Mexico

Villa de Etla wastewater treatment plant serves the community of Villa de Etla in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. The facility provides secondary treatment for a population of approximately 8,215 residents, reflecting its role in managing municipal wastewater for this small agglomeration. The plant operates with a designed capacity of 993.60 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 777.60 cubic meters of treated effluent daily. Under Mexican wastewater regulations (NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996 and subsequent updates), secondary treatment is the standard for municipal plants of this scale, ensuring compliance with discharge limits for organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Pacific Ocean via the Atoyac River basin. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality and supports the ecological health of the region's freshwater systems.

The plant discharges into the Atoyac River basin, which flows through the Central Valleys of Oaxaca and eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and domestic use downstream. Effective wastewater treatment is critical to prevent nutrient enrichment and maintain water quality in this semi-arid region.