Overview
Santa Cruz_Silveira wastewater treatment plant serves Torres Vedras, Portugal, with a designed capacity of 1.00. It treats wastewater from approximately 40,100 people and discharges into the Atlantic coastal environment.
The Santa Cruz_Silveira wastewater treatment plant is located in the parish of Silveira, near the town of Torres Vedras in the Lisbon District of Portugal. Serving a population of approximately 40,100, the plant is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the region, which includes coastal and inland communities. As a Portuguese wastewater facility, the plant operates under national regulations that transpose the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size (between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalent), the directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum, with more stringent treatment if the discharge enters sensitive areas. The plant's location near the Atlantic coast may subject it to additional requirements under Portuguese coastal water quality standards. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean, likely via a local watercourse or direct outfall. The receiving environment includes the coastal waters of the Lisbon region, which support diverse marine life and are important for local fisheries and tourism. The nearby Berlengas archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, underscores the ecological sensitivity of the area, though the plant's discharge is managed to minimize environmental impact.
Environmental context
The Santa Cruz_Silveira plant discharges into the Atlantic Ocean near the western coast of Portugal, within the Lisbon District. The coastal waters here are part of the broader North Atlantic ecosystem, supporting species such as sardines, sea bass, and migratory seabirds. The proximity to the Berlengas archipelago, a protected marine area, highlights the need for careful wastewater management to prevent nutrient enrichment and maintain water quality for both ecological and recreational uses.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in the parish of Silveira, near Torres Vedras in the Lisbon District of Portugal, approximately 50 km northwest of Lisbon.
The plant serves approximately 40,100 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU definitions.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Atlantic Ocean, likely via a local stream or direct outfall, given its proximity to the coast.
As a Portuguese facility, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size, with potential tertiary treatment if discharging into sensitive coastal areas.
Under the EU directive, plants serving 10,000 to 100,000 population equivalent typically require secondary treatment (biological treatment). In coastal areas, additional nutrient removal may be needed to protect marine ecosystems.
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