Fornos de Algodres Wastewater Treatment Plant | Guarda, Portugal

The Fornos de Algodres wastewater treatment plant is located in the Guarda district of central Portugal, serving the town of Fornos de Algodres and surrounding areas. With a population equivalent of 3,200, it is classified as a small agglomeration under Portuguese and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary biological 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 3,630 cubic meters per day, and current discharge volume averages 533.54 cubic meters per day, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Mondego River basin, ultimately reaching the Atlantic Ocean near Figueira da Foz. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's surface water quality and supporting downstream aquatic ecosystems.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Mondego River, one of Portugal's major rivers flowing westward to the Atlantic Ocean. The Mondego basin supports diverse freshwater habitats and is important for agriculture and biodiversity. Secondary treatment helps reduce organic load and nutrient pollution, safeguarding water quality in the river and its estuary.