Overview
Idanha a Nova Sul is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving 5,000 people in Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal. It discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, contributing to the Tagus River basin.
Idanha a Nova Sul is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Senhora da Graça, Idanha-a-Nova, in the Castelo Branco district of central Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,000 residents, typical of a small agglomeration in the region. The facility provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 5,000 cubic meters per day and a discharge volume of 833.65 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well within its capacity. The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watercourse, which flows into the Tagus River (Tejo), one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula. The Tagus ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Tagus basin, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for irrigation and recreation downstream.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into a tributary of the Tagus River, which drains a large portion of central Portugal and Spain before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at the Tagus Estuary. The estuary is an ecologically sensitive area that supports migratory birds and fish species. The secondary treatment provided helps reduce organic pollutants and protect the downstream aquatic ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
Idanha a Nova Sul is located in Senhora da Graça, Idanha-a-Nova, in the Castelo Branco district of central Portugal.
The plant serves approximately 5,000 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into a local watercourse that flows into the Tagus River, eventually reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
Idanha a Nova Sul provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size.
In Portugal, wastewater treatment plants operate under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent and more stringent treatment in sensitive areas.
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