Overview
Maxial wastewater treatment plant in Torres Vedras, Portugal, serves 5,200 people with secondary treatment. It discharges 867 cubic meters daily and is located within 10 km of the Atlantic coast.
The Maxial wastewater treatment plant is located in the parish of Ermegeira, Maxial e Monte Redondo, in Torres Vedras, Lisbon District, Portugal. It serves a population of approximately 5,200 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under Portuguese and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 7,100 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of 867 cubic meters per day, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains to the Atlantic Ocean. The proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means the plant's discharge can influence coastal water quality, particularly for nearby beaches and marine ecosystems. The region's Mediterranean climate with wet winters and dry summers affects seasonal flow patterns in receiving waters.
Environmental context
The Maxial plant discharges into a local watercourse that flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Torres Vedras. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries and tourism. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, protecting downstream water quality and the ecological health of the coastal zone.
Frequently asked questions
The Maxial plant is located in the parish of Ermegeira, Maxial e Monte Redondo, in Torres Vedras, Lisbon District, Portugal.
The plant serves approximately 5,200 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration.
The plant provides secondary treatment and discharges treated effluent into a local watercourse that flows to the Atlantic Ocean.
As a Portuguese plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging to freshwater.
For small to medium agglomerations in Portugal, secondary treatment is standard, often using activated sludge or biological filtration, in line with EU requirements.
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