Overview
Gelfa wastewater treatment plant serves the municipality of Caminha, Portugal, with a designed capacity of 1.00 cubic meters per day. It treats wastewater from a population of approximately 20,100 people.
Gelfa is a wastewater treatment plant located in the parish of Âncora, within the municipality of Caminha, in the Viana do Castelo district of northern Portugal. The plant serves a population equivalent of about 20,100 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). As a Portuguese facility, Gelfa operates under the national transposition of the EU UWWTD (Directive 91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater or estuaries. The plant is situated near the Atlantic coast, within 50 km of the shoreline, and its location in the Minho region suggests it likely discharges into the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean or the Minho River estuary. The plant's environmental significance lies in its role in protecting the coastal and estuarine ecosystems of northern Portugal. The region is known for its biodiversity, including migratory bird species and marine life. Proper treatment helps prevent nutrient pollution and safeguards water quality in the Atlantic coastal zone, which supports tourism and fisheries.
Environmental context
The Gelfa plant is located in the Minho region, near the Atlantic coast. Its treated effluent likely discharges into the Atlantic Ocean or the Minho River estuary, which flows into the Atlantic. The coastal waters here support diverse marine life and are important for local fisheries and tourism. The area is also part of the Iberian coastal ecosystem, which hosts migratory birds and sensitive habitats.
Frequently asked questions
The Gelfa plant is located in the parish of Âncora, in the municipality of Caminha, Viana do Castelo district, northern Portugal. Its address is Ecovia Litoral Norte, Âncora, Caminha, 4910-457.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 20,100 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant likely discharges treated effluent into the Atlantic Ocean or the Minho River estuary, given its proximity to the coast (within 50 km).
As a Portuguese plant, Gelfa operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), transposed into national law. This directive requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of 10,000-150,000 population equivalent discharging into coastal or estuarine waters.
For agglomerations of this size, the EU UWWTD mandates secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum. In sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be required to reduce nutrients. Portuguese plants often use activated sludge or similar processes.
Nearby plants