Alpendurada e Matos Tamega Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alpendorada, Portugal

Alpendurada e Matos Tamega is a wastewater treatment plant located in the parish of Alpendorada, Várzea e Torrão, within the municipality of Marco de Canaveses, Porto district, Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,500, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Portuguese and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 3,500 cubic meters per day and an average discharge volume of 416.83 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Douro River, one of the Iberian Peninsula's major rivers. The Douro flows westward through Portugal and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Porto. The plant's operations help protect the Douro's water quality, supporting aquatic life and downstream uses such as agriculture and recreation.

The plant discharges into the Douro River basin, which flows through northern Portugal and into the Atlantic Ocean. The Douro is a vital waterway supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species like the Iberian barbel and trout. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to maintain the river's ecological balance and water quality for downstream communities and habitats.