Motupe vieja Wastewater Treatment Plant, Motupe, Lambayeque, Peru

Motupe vieja is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Lotización Genesis area of Motupe, in the Lambayeque region of Peru. The plant serves a population of approximately 17,915 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category for the region. Its location in the coastal desert of northern Peru influences the local water management challenges. Peru's wastewater treatment regulations require secondary treatment for urban agglomerations of this scale, as outlined in the country's environmental standards. Typical facilities in this region employ stabilization ponds or activated sludge systems to meet discharge standards. The treated effluent is likely discharged into a local watercourse that drains into the Pacific Ocean, given the plant's inland location about 50 km from the coast. The surrounding area is agricultural, with sugarcane and rice cultivation, making water quality management important for both human use and ecosystem health.

The plant's discharge likely enters the Motupe River basin, which flows westward through the Lambayeque region and into the Pacific Ocean. This coastal watershed supports irrigated agriculture and seasonal wetlands that provide habitat for migratory birds. The arid climate means that water resources are scarce, and any pollution from wastewater can have amplified impacts on downstream communities and ecosystems.