Overview
Alcanena wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 400,000 people in Santarém, Portugal. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The Alcanena wastewater treatment plant is located in São Pedro, Alcanena e Vila Moreira, in the municipality of Alcanena, Santarém District, Portugal. It serves a population of approximately 400,000, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and its treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Atlantic Ocean. As a large agglomeration in Portugal, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum, and tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in million cubic meters per year or similar unit), indicating a substantial infrastructure to handle the wastewater from the urban and industrial areas of Alcanena and surrounding communities. The plant plays a critical role in protecting the local watershed, which is part of the Tagus River basin. The treated wastewater is discharged into tributaries that flow into the Tagus River, one of the major rivers in the Iberian Peninsula, before reaching the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. Proper treatment helps maintain water quality in the Tagus estuary, a vital ecosystem for migratory birds and aquatic life.
Environmental context
The Alcanena plant discharges into the Tagus River basin, which flows into the Tagus estuary and then the Atlantic Ocean. The estuary is an ecologically sensitive area that supports diverse aquatic life and serves as an important migratory corridor for birds. The plant's treatment performance is crucial for maintaining water quality in this downstream environment, particularly given the industrial activities in the region.
Frequently asked questions
The Alcanena wastewater treatment plant is located in São Pedro, Alcanena e Vila Moreira, in the municipality of Alcanena, Santarém District, Portugal.
The plant serves approximately 400,000 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The treated wastewater is discharged into local watercourses within the Tagus River basin, which ultimately flows into the Atlantic Ocean via the Tagus estuary.
As a Portuguese plant serving over 150,000 people, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment and potentially tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
For large agglomerations in Portugal, the EU UWWTD mandates at least secondary treatment. In sensitive areas, tertiary treatment for nutrient removal is required to protect water bodies like the Tagus estuary.
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