Cuba Wastewater Treatment Plant - Beja, Portugal | Secondary Treatment Facility

The Cuba wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Cuba, Beja district, Portugal. It serves a population of approximately 3,300 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Portuguese and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,100 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 550.21 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Sado River basin and the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality and supporting the ecological health of downstream aquatic environments.

The Cuba WWTP discharges into small streams that flow into the Sado River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Setubal. The Sado estuary is an ecologically important area supporting diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish and waterbirds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality.