Overview
Grota do Vale wastewater treatment plant serves Ribeirinha, Portugal, on Terceira Island in the Azores. It treats wastewater for approximately 25,800 people under EU regulatory standards.
Grota do Vale is a wastewater treatment plant located in Ribeirinha, a parish in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 25,800, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU classification. As a Portuguese facility, Grota do Vale operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters. The Azores region, being an outermost region of the EU, benefits from specific adaptations under the directive, though the core treatment standards apply. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into the Atlantic Ocean, given Terceira Island's coastal geography. The surrounding marine environment supports diverse aquatic life, including cetaceans and seabirds, and is part of the Azores Marine Park, an ecologically sensitive area. Proper treatment is essential to protect water quality and marine biodiversity.
Environmental context
Grota do Vale discharges into the Atlantic Ocean near Terceira Island, part of the Azores archipelago. The coastal waters are ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse marine life including cetaceans, seabirds, and endemic species. The plant's operation helps protect the local marine environment from nutrient pollution and pathogens.
Frequently asked questions
Grota do Vale is located in Ribeirinha, a parish in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal.
The plant serves approximately 25,800 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU standards.
Given its coastal location on Terceira Island, the treated effluent is likely discharged into the Atlantic Ocean, subject to Portuguese and EU regulations.
As a Portuguese plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 15,000 population equivalent discharging to coastal waters.
Under the EU directive, plants serving 25,800 people in coastal areas typically require secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and nutrients.
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