Overview
Chelas wastewater treatment plant serves 171,000 people in Lisboa, Portugal. It is located near the coast and operates under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive standards.
Chelas is a wastewater treatment plant serving the city of Lisboa, Portugal, with a population equivalent of 171,000. The facility is situated in the Beato district near the Port of Lisboa, reflecting its role in managing urban wastewater from a major European capital. As a plant serving over 150,000 people, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive's 'large agglomeration' category, which requires advanced treatment to protect sensitive receiving waters. The plant's scale implies compliance with stringent nutrient removal standards typical for coastal discharges in the EU. The treated effluent is discharged into the Tagus River estuary, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. This estuarine environment supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor for migratory fish and bird species. The plant's operation is critical to maintaining water quality in this densely populated and ecologically sensitive coastal region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Tagus River estuary, one of Europe's largest estuaries, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean. This estuarine ecosystem supports diverse aquatic life, including fish nurseries and migratory birds. The proximity to the coast and the estuary's ecological sensitivity necessitate advanced treatment to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect marine biodiversity.
Frequently asked questions
The Chelas plant is located in the Beato district of Lisboa, Portugal, near the Port of Lisboa at Rua da Cintura do Porto de Lisboa.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 171,000 people in the Lisboa area.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Tagus River estuary, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon.
As a large agglomeration serving over 150,000 people, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates advanced treatment for discharges into sensitive coastal areas.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants of this scale in coastal areas typically require tertiary treatment with nutrient removal to protect sensitive estuarine and marine environments.
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