Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo Wastewater Treatment Plant - Guarda, Portugal

The Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo wastewater treatment plant is located in the Guarda district of Portugal, serving a population of approximately 2,500 residents. The facility is situated inland, far from coastal areas, and operates under the national regulatory framework aligned with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard requirement under the EU directive for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,700 m³/day and an average daily discharge of 416.83 m³/day, the plant operates well within its capacity, indicating efficient management of the local wastewater load. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Douro River basin. The Douro River flows through northern Portugal and Spain before reaching the Atlantic Ocean near Porto. The plant's operations help protect the water quality of the Douro basin, supporting aquatic life and downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Douro River basin, one of the major river systems in the Iberian Peninsula. The Douro flows westward through Portugal, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats and is important for regional biodiversity. The secondary treatment provided by the plant helps reduce organic pollutants and nutrients, mitigating eutrophication risks in the river and its estuary.