Overview
Cachao wastewater treatment plant serves the Mirandela area in Bragança, Portugal. It handles a population equivalent of 7,900 and operates under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive standards.
Cachao is a wastewater treatment plant located in the parish of Frechas, near Mirandela, in the Bragança district of northern Portugal. The facility serves a population equivalent of approximately 7,900, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under EU classification. As a Portuguese plant, Cachao operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. Regulatory compliance ensures appropriate treatment for its scale. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which is part of the Douro River basin. The Douro River flows westward through Portugal and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Porto. The region is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, influencing seasonal flow patterns in receiving waters.
Environmental context
Cachao's discharge enters the Tua River, a tributary of the Douro River, which ultimately flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Tua River valley supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region. The Douro basin is a major water resource for agriculture and human consumption, making effective wastewater treatment critical to maintaining water quality and ecosystem health.
Frequently asked questions
Cachao is located in the parish of Frechas, near Mirandela, in the Bragança district of northern Portugal. Its address is EN 213, Cachão, Frechas, Mirandela, Bragança, 5370-135.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 7,900 people, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under EU standards.
Treated effluent from Cachao is discharged into the local watershed, which flows into the Tua River, a tributary of the Douro River, and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean.
As a Portuguese facility, Cachao operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of its size and may require tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
For agglomerations of this scale, the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive requires secondary treatment. In Portugal, this typically involves biological treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.
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