Overview
Cebolais_Retaxo is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving 2,500 people in Castelo Branco, Portugal. It discharges 416.83 m³/day of treated effluent into the local watershed.
Cebolais_Retaxo is a wastewater treatment plant located in the civil parishes of Cebolais de Cima e Retaxo, within the municipality of Castelo Branco, Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,500 and operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. As a secondary treatment facility, Cebolais_Retaxo uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 6,247 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 416.83 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. It is operated as part of Portugal's municipal wastewater infrastructure, which is regulated by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) under EU directives. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that eventually drains into the Tagus River basin, one of the Iberian Peninsula's major river systems. The Tagus flows westward through Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for agriculture and urban use. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically important basin.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Tagus River basin, which flows through central Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus estuary is a vital habitat for migratory birds and supports diverse fish species. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to maintain water quality in the river system and minimize eutrophication risks in downstream waters.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in the civil parishes of Cebolais de Cima e Retaxo, within the municipality of Castelo Branco, in central Portugal.
The plant serves approximately 2,500 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU wastewater directives.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local watercourse that is part of the Tagus River basin, which flows to the Atlantic Ocean.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting EU standards for its population size.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), transposed into Portuguese law, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000.
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