Overview
Valhelhas wastewater treatment plant serves the Guarda area in Portugal, treating wastewater for approximately 15,700 people. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Valhelhas wastewater treatment plant is located in the Guarda district of central Portugal, serving a population of around 15,700. The facility is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the region, situated inland in a mountainous area. As a plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for such population equivalents. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The treated effluent from Valhelhas is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Mondego River basin, flowing westward to the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of this river system and the downstream environment.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Mondego River basin, which flows through central Portugal before reaching the Atlantic Ocean near Figueira da Foz. The Mondego is one of Portugal's major rivers, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing water for agriculture and urban use. The region's mountainous terrain and seasonal rainfall patterns influence runoff and water quality, making effective treatment essential for ecological balance.
Frequently asked questions
The Valhelhas wastewater treatment plant is located at CM 1179, Valhelhas, in the Guarda district of central Portugal.
The plant serves approximately 15,700 people in the Guarda area.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Mondego River basin, eventually reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
As a Portuguese plant serving over 15,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment and potentially tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalents are classified as medium agglomerations and must provide at least secondary treatment. In sensitive areas, additional nutrient removal may be required.
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