Almocageme Wastewater Treatment Plant, Colares, Portugal

Almocageme wastewater treatment plant was located in Colares, within the Sintra municipality of the Lisbon district, Portugal. It served a population of approximately 3,500 people, typical of a small coastal community. The plant is currently closed and no longer operational. The facility provided secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000 discharging into coastal waters. The designed capacity was 3,500 cubic meters per day, matching the population served. The plant's discharge volume was 583.56 cubic meters per day. The plant discharged treated wastewater near the Atlantic Ocean, within 10 km of the coast. The receiving waters are part of the coastal ecosystem of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, an area known for its cliffs, beaches, and marine biodiversity. The treated effluent contributed to the local hydrological cycle before entering the Atlantic.

The plant discharged into the Atlantic Ocean near the coast of Colares, within the Lisbon region. The coastal waters here support diverse marine life, including fish, crustaceans, and seabirds. The area is part of the larger Portuguese coastal system, which ultimately connects to the North Atlantic Ocean. The proximity to the coast means that treated effluent directly influences nearshore water quality and local ecosystems.