Cerrado das Aguas Wastewater Treatment Plant, Benavente, Portugal

Cerrado das Aguas is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Benavente, Santarém, Portugal. The facility serves a population of approximately 5,500 residents, providing advanced treatment to protect local water quality. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and discharges treated effluent into the local watershed. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 8,000 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 917.02 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. As a Portuguese plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates appropriate treatment levels based on the sensitivity of receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into the Tagus River basin, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The Tagus River is a vital ecological corridor supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory fish species. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and protect downstream water quality in the estuary and coastal zone.

The plant discharges into the Tagus River basin, which drains into the Tagus Estuary and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus Estuary is a critical habitat for migratory birds and supports diverse fish populations. Advanced treatment at Cerrado das Aguas helps minimize nutrient pollution and protects the ecological health of this important waterway.