Overview
Meda wastewater treatment plant serves the town of Mêda in Guarda, Portugal. It provides secondary treatment for a population of 2,300, discharging treated effluent into the local watershed.
The Meda wastewater treatment plant is located in Mêda, a town in the Guarda district of north-central Portugal. The facility serves a population of approximately 2,300 residents, providing essential sanitation infrastructure for this inland community. As a secondary treatment plant, it processes wastewater to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent) are required to provide appropriate treatment, with secondary treatment being the standard for freshwater discharges. The plant's designed capacity of 2,621 cubic meters per day indicates it is sized to handle current and future flows, with a reported discharge volume of 383.48 cubic meters per day. The treated effluent from the Meda plant is released into the local water environment, which ultimately drains into the Douro River basin. The Douro River flows west through Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean near Porto. The plant's inland location, over 50 km from the coast, means its discharge affects freshwater ecosystems rather than marine environments, supporting the ecological health of the regional watershed.
Environmental context
The Meda plant discharges into the Douro River basin, one of the Iberian Peninsula's major river systems. The Douro originates in Spain and flows through northern Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region, which includes habitats for native fish species and migratory birds.
Frequently asked questions
The Meda wastewater treatment plant is located in Mêda, a town in the Guarda district of north-central Portugal. The facility serves the local community and is situated inland, over 50 kilometers from the Atlantic coast.
The Meda plant serves a population of approximately 2,300 residents. This places it in the small agglomeration category under EU regulations, which require appropriate treatment for communities of this size.
The Meda plant provides secondary treatment and discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which is part of the Douro River basin. The Douro River flows westward to the Atlantic Ocean, so the plant's discharge ultimately reaches the sea after passing through freshwater ecosystems.
As a Portuguese wastewater treatment plant, Meda operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive sets treatment standards based on population served and receiving water sensitivity. For small agglomerations like Meda, secondary treatment is typically required for freshwater discharges.
For small agglomerations in Portugal, secondary treatment is the standard under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. This involves biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Plants of this scale often use technologies such as activated sludge or trickling filters, and are designed to meet effluent quality standards that protect receiving waters.
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