Vila Nova de S Bento Wastewater Treatment Plant, Serpa, Portugal

Vila Nova de S Bento is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Serpa municipality of Portugal's Beja district, in the Alentejo region. The facility serves a population of approximately 2,900 residents, providing advanced treatment to ensure high-quality effluent before discharge. The plant operates under Portugal's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates appropriate treatment levels based on population equivalents and receiving water sensitivity. With a designed capacity of 3,430 cubic meters, the plant treats an average daily flow of 483.52 cubic meters, indicating it operates well below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Guadiana River basin. The Guadiana River flows southward, forming part of the Portugal-Spain border before emptying into the Gulf of Cadiz in the Atlantic Ocean. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for agriculture and biodiversity in the Alentejo.

The plant discharges into the Guadiana River basin, which flows through the Alentejo region and forms a natural border with Spain before reaching the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of Cadiz. The Guadiana River supports a variety of fish species and provides habitat for migratory birds. The advanced treatment level helps protect downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive river system.