Gradil_Caneira Nova Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mafra, Portugal

Gradil_Caneira Nova is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Caneira Nova, Azueira e Sobral da Abelheira, Mafra, in the Lisbon district of Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,000 people, reflecting its role in managing municipal wastewater for this small agglomeration within the Lisbon region. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 5,508 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 833.65 m³/day, the facility operates well within its capacity. As a Portuguese plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates appropriate treatment levels based on the sensitivity of receiving waters and population size. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Atlantic Ocean. The region's watershed supports diverse aquatic life and contributes to the ecological health of the coastal zone. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream environments from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Atlantic Ocean via the Lisbon coastal watershed. This region supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including estuarine and marine habitats. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality and preventing eutrophication in coastal waters.