Overview
Benfica do Ribatejo wastewater treatment plant serves the Almeirim area in Santarém, Portugal. It provides secondary treatment for a population of 2,400, discharging treated water into the local watershed.
Benfica do Ribatejo is a wastewater treatment plant located in the parish of Benfica do Ribatejo, within the municipality of Almeirim, Santarém District, Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,400 people, making it a small-scale facility in the 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. The designed capacity is 3,000 cubic meters per day, and the current discharge volume is around 400 cubic meters per day, indicating ample capacity for current loads. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tagus River (Tejo), one of the major rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. The Tagus flows westward through Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant's location about 50 km inland reduces direct coastal impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall water quality of the Tagus basin, which supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities downstream.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Tagus River basin, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The Tagus is a vital water resource for irrigation, drinking water, and biodiversity in central Portugal. The downstream environment includes estuarine habitats that support migratory fish and bird species. Proper treatment at this plant helps maintain water quality in the basin, reducing nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the estuary.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in the parish of Benfica do Ribatejo, in the municipality of Almeirim, Santarém District, Portugal. Its address is Campos de Petanca, EN 118, Porto Sabugueiro, Benfica do Ribatejo, Almeirim, Santarém, 2080-339.
The plant serves a population of approximately 2,400 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU wastewater directives.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which flows into the Tagus River basin. The Tagus River ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids.
As a Portuguese plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), transposed into national law. For small agglomerations (under 10,000 population equivalent), secondary treatment is required, and the plant's discharge must meet quality standards to protect the Tagus River basin.
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