Overview
Beirolas wastewater treatment plant serves 193,000 people in Lisbon, Portugal. It is located in the Parque das Nações district and discharges into the Tagus River estuary.
Beirolas is a wastewater treatment plant serving the city of Lisbon, Portugal, specifically the Parque das Nações district. It handles wastewater from a population equivalent of 193,000, making it a large agglomeration under EU classification. The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive mandates appropriate treatment to protect sensitive receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into the Tagus River estuary, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The estuary is an ecologically important area supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory bird species. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this sensitive coastal environment.
Environmental context
Beirolas discharges into the Tagus River estuary, one of Europe's largest estuaries, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The estuary supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and serves as a critical habitat for migratory birds and fish species. Protecting water quality here is essential for maintaining ecological balance and supporting local fisheries and tourism.
Frequently asked questions
The Beirolas plant is located in the Parque das Nações district of Lisbon, Portugal, at Passeio do Sapal.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 193,000 people.
Treated wastewater from Beirolas is discharged into the Tagus River estuary, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
As a plant serving over 150,000 people, Beirolas is classified as a large agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment or more advanced treatment to protect sensitive areas.
Under the EU directive, plants of this scale in Portugal typically provide at least secondary biological treatment, and may include nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive waters like the Tagus estuary.
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