Overview
Viana do Alentejo Aires is a secondary wastewater treatment plant serving 1,300 people in Viana do Alentejo, Portugal. It discharges 216.75 m³/day of treated effluent into the local watershed.
Viana do Alentejo Aires is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Viana do Alentejo, a town in the Évora district of southern Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,300 residents, making it a small-scale facility within the region's sanitation network. Its location in the Alentejo region, characterized by a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters, influences the local water management needs. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,310 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 216.75 m³, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment, contributing to the water quality of the Sado River basin, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean near Setúbal. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water resources, supporting agricultural activities and maintaining ecological balance in the downstream aquatic habitats.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Sado River basin, which flows westward to the Atlantic Ocean via the Sado estuary, a vital ecosystem for migratory birds and aquatic life. The region's Mediterranean climate and agricultural land use make the receiving waters sensitive to nutrient loading, emphasizing the importance of effective secondary treatment to prevent eutrophication and protect downstream biodiversity.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Horta do Fidalgo, Viana do Alentejo, in the Évora district of Portugal.
The plant serves approximately 1,300 people in the municipality of Viana do Alentejo.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which flows into the Sado River basin and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size.
As a Portuguese plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for settlements with a population equivalent over 2,000, though smaller plants may also comply.
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