Overview
Seixalinho wastewater treatment plant serves Montijo, Portugal, with a population equivalent of 42,350. Located near the Tagus estuary, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Seixalinho is a wastewater treatment plant serving the city of Montijo in the Setúbal district of Portugal. With a population served of 42,350, it falls into the medium agglomeration category under EU classification. The plant is situated in the Lisbon metropolitan area, near the southern bank of the Tagus River estuary. As a Portuguese facility, Seixalinho operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into estuarine waters. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating a moderate scale. The treated effluent from Seixalinho discharges into the Tagus River estuary, a major coastal ecosystem that supports diverse aquatic life and serves as an important migratory corridor for birds. The estuary ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 50 km) and the estuarine environment necessitate careful management to protect water quality and marine habitats.
Environmental context
Seixalinho discharges into the Tagus River estuary, one of Europe's largest estuaries, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. This estuarine environment supports a rich diversity of fish, invertebrates, and bird species, including several that are ecologically sensitive. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast means its effluent can influence coastal water quality, particularly in the adjacent marine areas.
Frequently asked questions
Seixalinho is located in Montijo, in the Setúbal district of Portugal, near the southern bank of the Tagus River estuary.
Seixalinho serves a population equivalent of 42,350, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU standards.
The treated effluent from Seixalinho is discharged into the Tagus River estuary, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon.
As a Portuguese plant serving over 10,000 people, Seixalinho is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for discharges into estuarine waters.
For medium agglomerations in Portugal, secondary treatment is standard under the EU directive. If the receiving waters are sensitive, tertiary treatment may be required to reduce nutrients.
Nearby plants