Ponte de Lima Wastewater Treatment Plant | Serving the Lima River Basin

The Ponte de Lima wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Ponte de Lima, in the Viana do Castelo district of northern Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 18,400 people, making it a medium-sized agglomeration under Portuguese and EU classifications. It is situated near the Lima River, which flows through the historic town center. As a plant in Portugal, it 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 discharge is into sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is recorded as 1.00, though the unit is unspecified, and no treatment level or process details are available in the public record. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the Lima River, which flows westward to the Atlantic Ocean at Viana do Castelo. The river supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in the Lima basin and the downstream coastal environment.

The plant discharges into the Lima River, which flows approximately 50 km from the Spanish border to the Atlantic Ocean at Viana do Castelo. The river supports a variety of fish species and is used for recreation and agriculture. The downstream estuary is ecologically sensitive, providing habitat for migratory birds and aquatic species. Protecting water quality in the Lima basin is essential for maintaining the health of the coastal zone and the Atlantic marine environment.