Amareleja Wastewater Treatment Plant, Moura | Portugal

The Amareleja wastewater treatment plant is located in the parish of Amareleja, within the municipality of Moura, in the Beja district of southern Portugal. It serves a population of approximately 2,500 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility in the Alentejo region. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 4,800 m³/day, with an average daily discharge volume of about 417 m³, indicating ample reserve capacity for future growth. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment, ultimately draining into the Guadiana River basin, which flows south to the Gulf of Cádiz. The Guadiana River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water resource for agriculture and ecosystems in the region.

The plant discharges into the Guadiana River basin, a major Iberian watercourse that flows through Portugal and Spain before reaching the Gulf of Cádiz. The Guadiana supports a variety of fish species and provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The Alentejo region's Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers, makes water quality management essential for maintaining ecological balance in the river and its tributaries.