Overview
Sesimbra wastewater treatment plant serves 19,100 people in Sesimbra, Setúbal, Portugal. It has a designed capacity of 1.00 and is located within 50 km of the coast.
The Sesimbra wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility serving the town of Sesimbra in the Setúbal district of Portugal. Located in the coastal region of the Arrábida Natural Park, the plant handles wastewater from a population of approximately 19,100 residents, reflecting its role in supporting the local community and tourism industry. As a Portuguese wastewater treatment plant, Sesimbra operates under the national implementation of 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 advanced treatment if the discharge is into sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity of 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day) indicates its scale. The treated effluent from the Sesimbra plant is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean via the coastal waters of the Setúbal Peninsula. This area is ecologically significant, supporting diverse marine life and serving as a habitat for migratory bird species. The plant's proximity to the coast underscores the importance of effective treatment to protect bathing waters and marine ecosystems along the Portuguese shoreline.
Environmental context
The Sesimbra plant discharges into the Atlantic Ocean along the coast of the Setúbal Peninsula. This coastal zone is part of the Arrábida Natural Park, a region known for its rich biodiversity, including seagrass meadows and rocky reefs that support fish and invertebrate populations. The area is also important for migratory birds and marine mammals. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to maintain water quality for tourism and ecological health.
Frequently asked questions
The Sesimbra wastewater treatment plant is located in Sentrão, Castelo, Sesimbra, Setúbal, Portugal, near the coast of the Arrábida Natural Park.
The plant serves approximately 19,100 people in the town of Sesimbra and surrounding areas.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean along the coast of the Setúbal Peninsula, a sensitive marine environment.
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 and potentially tertiary treatment if discharging into sensitive coastal areas.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalent typically require secondary treatment. For coastal discharges, additional nutrient removal may be needed to protect marine ecosystems.
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