Overview
Lanheses wastewater treatment plant serves the municipality of Ponte de Lima, Portugal, with a designed capacity of 1.00 and a population equivalent of 9,500. The plant is located within 50 km of the Atlantic coast.
Lanheses wastewater treatment plant is located in the parish of Fontão, near the town of Ponte de Lima in the Viana do Castelo district of northern Portugal. The plant serves a population equivalent of 9,500, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under Portuguese and EU regulations. As a plant of this scale in Portugal, Lanheses is expected to comply with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater and estuaries. The designed capacity of 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar units) indicates a facility sized for the local community's needs. The plant's treated effluent ultimately discharges into the Lima River basin, which flows westward through the historic town of Ponte de Lima and into the Atlantic Ocean at Viana do Castelo. The Lima River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the Minho region.
Environmental context
The Lima River originates in Spain and flows through the Peneda-Gerês region before reaching the Atlantic near Viana do Castelo. Its estuary is a productive coastal ecosystem supporting migratory fish species and waterfowl. The plant's discharge contributes to the river's flow and must meet quality standards to protect downstream aquatic habitats and the coastal zone.
Frequently asked questions
The Lanheses WWTP is located in the parish of Fontão, near the town of Ponte de Lima, in the Viana do Castelo district of northern Portugal.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 9,500, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Lima River basin, which flows westward to the Atlantic Ocean near Viana do Castelo.
As a Portuguese plant, Lanheses operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater.
For small-to-medium agglomerations in Portugal, secondary treatment (biological treatment) is standard, often with nutrient removal if the receiving water is sensitive.
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