Overview
Tornada wastewater treatment plant in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, serves 2,200 people with advanced treatment. It discharges 366.81 cubic meters of treated wastewater near the Atlantic coast.
The Tornada wastewater treatment plant is located in Caldas da Rainha, in the Leiria district of Portugal. It serves a population of approximately 2,200 people, making it a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated near the Atlantic coast, within 10 kilometers of the shoreline, and its operations are subject to Portuguese and European Union environmental regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 2,239 cubic meters per day, and the current discharge volume is 366.81 cubic meters per day, indicating ample capacity for current loads. The facility operates under the national permitting framework, which aligns with EU directives to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean. The coastal environment supports diverse marine life and is ecologically sensitive. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality and contributing to the health of the regional marine ecosystem.
Environmental context
The Tornada plant discharges into a coastal watershed that flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Caldas da Rainha. The receiving waters support a variety of marine species and are part of a region known for its coastal lagoons and estuaries. The advanced treatment level reduces the risk of eutrophication and protects sensitive marine habitats, which are important for local biodiversity and fisheries.
Frequently asked questions
The Tornada plant is located at Estrada da Roda, Mouraria, Tornada e Salir do Porto, in Caldas da Rainha, Leiria District, Portugal.
The plant serves approximately 2,200 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The discharge volume is 366.81 cubic meters per day.
The plant uses advanced treatment, which exceeds the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for small agglomerations.
As a Portuguese facility, the Tornada plant operates under national legislation implementing the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for wastewater collection and treatment.
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