Overview
Varzea Margaride is a closed secondary treatment plant in Felgueiras, Portugal, with a designed capacity of 10,000 m³/day. It served the local community before ceasing operations.
Varzea Margaride is a former wastewater treatment plant located in Felgueiras, Porto District, Portugal. The plant was designed to serve the local population with a capacity of 10,000 m³/day, reflecting its role in managing municipal wastewater for the region. The plant provided secondary treatment, a standard level under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for inland agglomerations. Although now closed, its design capacity indicates it was sized for a medium-sized community, aligning with typical requirements for protecting freshwater resources. The treated effluent from Varzea Margaride would have discharged into local watercourses within the Douro River basin, ultimately flowing to the Atlantic Ocean. The plant's operation contributed to safeguarding water quality in the region's rivers and supporting downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
Varzea Margaride is situated inland in the Douro River basin, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean near Porto. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities. Proper wastewater treatment in this region helps prevent nutrient pollution and maintains the ecological health of rivers and coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
Varzea Margaride is located in Felgueiras, Porto District, Portugal, near the CRIA animal collection center on EN 101.
The plant had a designed capacity of 10,000 m³ per day, indicating it was sized for a medium-sized agglomeration.
The plant provided secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for inland freshwater discharges.
It may have been replaced by a newer facility or decommissioned due to changes in local wastewater management.
As a Portuguese plant, it operated under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent discharging to freshwater.
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