Overview
Cucena wastewater treatment plant serves Seixal, Portugal, treating wastewater for approximately 8,300 residents. The facility operates under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive standards.
Cucena wastewater treatment plant is located in Seixal, Setúbal District, Portugal, serving a population of around 8,300 people. The plant is situated in the Aldeia de Paio Pires area, part of the greater Lisbon metropolitan region. As a plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for inland discharges and more advanced treatment if discharging into sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar unit), indicating it is sized to handle the local wastewater load. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tagus River estuary and then into the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus estuary is a vital ecological zone supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory bird populations. The plant's operation helps protect this sensitive downstream environment from nutrient pollution and pathogens.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Tagus River basin, which flows into the Tagus estuary near Lisbon and then into the Atlantic Ocean. The estuary is a critical habitat for fish, birds, and other wildlife, and is designated as a protected area under national and international frameworks. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.
Frequently asked questions
Cucena wastewater treatment plant is located in Aldeia de Paio Pires, Seixal, Setúbal District, Portugal, near the southern bank of the Tagus River estuary.
The plant serves approximately 8,300 residents in the Seixal area.
The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which flows into the Tagus River estuary and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean.
As a Portuguese plant, Cucena operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for collection, treatment, and discharge of urban wastewater.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent typically require secondary treatment, unless discharging into sensitive areas where more advanced treatment may be needed.
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