S Bartolomeu de Messines Wastewater Treatment Plant - São Bartolomeu de Messines, Portugal

S Bartolomeu de Messines wastewater treatment plant is located in São Bartolomeu de Messines, a town in the municipality of Silves, Faro District, Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 6,000 people and has a designed capacity of 1.00, reflecting its role in managing municipal wastewater for this community. As a Portuguese wastewater facility, the plant operates under national regulations that implement the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent), the directive requires appropriate treatment to meet quality standards, typically secondary treatment, unless the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas requiring more advanced treatment. The plant's discharge ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean via local watercourses, as the facility is situated within 50 km of the coast. The region's Mediterranean climate and proximity to the Algarve coast mean that treated effluent quality is important for protecting coastal water quality and supporting tourism and marine ecosystems.

The plant discharges into local water bodies that drain into the Atlantic Ocean near the Algarve coast. This coastal region supports diverse marine life and is an important area for fisheries and tourism. The receiving waters are part of a sensitive coastal environment where nutrient management is critical to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality for recreational use.