Figueiro dos Vinhos Wastewater Treatment Plant, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Portugal

The Figueiro dos Vinhos wastewater treatment plant is located in the Leiria district of central Portugal, serving the town of Figueiró dos Vinhos and surrounding areas. With a population equivalent of 2,600, it is classified as a small agglomeration under Portuguese and EU regulations. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 2,876 m³/day, and current discharge volume is 433.50 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Zêzere River, a major tributary of the Tagus River. The Tagus flows westward through Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Zêzere River basin, which supports aquatic ecosystems and provides water for agriculture and recreation.

The plant discharges into the Zêzere River basin, which flows into the Tagus River, one of the longest rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. The Tagus estuary is an ecologically sensitive area supporting diverse birdlife and fish species. Secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, safeguarding water quality in the downstream river system and the Atlantic coastal zone.