Overview
Ponte da Baia_Tamega is a wastewater treatment plant serving Amarante, Portugal. It treats wastewater for approximately 22,500 people under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Ponte da Baia_Tamega is a wastewater treatment plant located in Vilarinho, Vila Caiz, Amarante, in the Porto district of Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 22,500 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. As a Portuguese facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas, such as those prone to eutrophication. The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Douro River basin. The Douro River is one of the major rivers in the Iberian Peninsula, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for agriculture and human consumption downstream.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters the Tâmega River, a tributary of the Douro River, which flows westward through northern Portugal and discharges into the Atlantic Ocean near Porto. The Douro River basin is ecologically significant, supporting migratory fish species such as the European eel and lamprey. The region's climate, with wet winters and dry summers, influences river flow and pollutant dilution capacity.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Vilarinho, Vila Caiz, Amarante, in the Porto district of Portugal.
The plant serves approximately 22,500 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which flows into the Tâmega River, a tributary of the Douro River, ultimately reaching 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 and may require tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 people typically require secondary treatment, which includes biological processes to remove organic matter and nutrients.
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