Overview
ETAR da Ponta ETAR 2 serves Vila Baleira on Porto Santo Island, Madeira, Portugal. The plant treats wastewater for approximately 13,000 people and discharges into the local environment.
ETAR da Ponta ETAR 2 is a wastewater treatment plant located in Vila Baleira on Porto Santo Island, part of the Madeira archipelago in Portugal. The facility serves a population of around 13,000 residents, covering the urban area of the island's main town. As an island plant, it plays a critical role in protecting the surrounding marine and coastal ecosystems. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations of this size (10,000-15,000 p.e.) are required to provide secondary treatment as a minimum. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the discharge enters sensitive areas, which coastal and island environments often are. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating it is sized to handle the local population's wastewater load. The treated effluent from ETAR da Ponta ETAR 2 is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean near Porto Santo. The island's coastal waters support diverse marine life and are important for tourism and local fisheries. Proper treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect the sensitive marine ecosystem around Madeira.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Atlantic Ocean near Porto Santo Island, part of the Madeira archipelago. The coastal waters are ecologically sensitive, supporting seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and diverse fish populations. The island's small size and reliance on groundwater make proper wastewater treatment crucial for preventing marine pollution and protecting the local environment.
Frequently asked questions
ETAR da Ponta ETAR 2 is located in Vila Baleira on Porto Santo Island, in the Madeira archipelago of Portugal. The address is Campo de Golfe Porto Santo, Estrada da Lapeira De Dentro, Vila Baleira, Porto Santo, Madeira.
The plant serves approximately 13,000 people, covering the urban population of Vila Baleira and surrounding areas on Porto Santo Island.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean near Porto Santo. As a coastal plant, it must meet stringent treatment standards to protect the marine environment.
As a Portuguese plant, ETAR da Ponta ETAR 2 operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and may require advanced treatment in sensitive coastal areas.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 15,000 population equivalent are classified as medium agglomerations and must provide at least secondary treatment. Coastal plants often implement additional nutrient removal to protect marine ecosystems.
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