Torres Vedras Wastewater Treatment Plant: Serving 31,400 People in Portugal

The Torres Vedras wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility serving the city of Torres Vedras in the Lisbon District of Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 31,400 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU classification. 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. 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 or similar unit), indicating a scale appropriate for its service population. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which drains into the Sizandro River and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean. The region's water bodies support diverse aquatic life and are important for local agriculture and tourism. Proper treatment helps protect downstream ecosystems and coastal water quality.

The plant's treated effluent flows into the Sizandro River, a coastal stream that empties into the Atlantic Ocean near the town of Torres Vedras. The river and its estuary provide habitat for fish and bird species and support local agriculture. The Atlantic coastal zone is ecologically sensitive, with sandy beaches and dune systems that rely on good water quality for tourism and biodiversity.