Overview
Escalos Lousa wastewater treatment plant serves 6,700 people in Castelo Branco, Portugal. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
Escalos Lousa is a wastewater treatment plant located in Castelo Branco, Portugal, serving a population of approximately 6,700 residents. The plant is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the region, contributing to the management of domestic wastewater from the local community. As a plant serving a medium agglomeration (between 2,000 and 10,000 people), it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater and estuaries. The directive ensures that treatment levels are adequate to protect the receiving environment, with more stringent requirements for sensitive areas. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tagus River basin, one of the major river systems in the Iberian Peninsula. The Tagus River flows westward through Portugal and into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for agriculture and urban use along its course.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters the Tagus River basin, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus River supports a variety of fish species and provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The downstream environment includes estuarine and coastal ecosystems that are ecologically sensitive, requiring careful management of nutrient and pollutant loads to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality.
Frequently asked questions
Escalos Lousa WWTP is located in Castelo Branco, Portugal. The facility serves the local community and is part of the municipal wastewater system for the region.
The plant serves approximately 6,700 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which flows into the Tagus River basin. The Tagus River ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon.
As a Portuguese plant serving over 2,000 people, Escalos Lousa operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater and estuaries.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 people are required to provide secondary treatment. This typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
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