Overview
Vilar_Sernancelhe wastewater treatment plant serves Escurquela e Fonte Arcada in Sernancelhe, Viseu, Portugal. It treats wastewater from a population of approximately 9,300.
Vilar_Sernancelhe is a wastewater treatment plant located in Fonte Arcada, within the parish of Escurquela e Fonte Arcada, Sernancelhe, Viseu, Portugal. The facility serves a population of around 9,300 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under Portuguese and EU regulations. As a plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires appropriate treatment based on the sensitivity of the receiving environment. For inland plants in non-sensitive areas, secondary treatment is typically mandated. It is expected to comply with national standards. The plant discharges treated effluent into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Douro River basin, which flows westward to the Atlantic Ocean near Porto. The Douro basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in northern Portugal. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters a small tributary within the Douro River basin, which flows into the Douro River and then the Atlantic Ocean. The Douro basin is ecologically significant, supporting fish species such as the Iberian barbel and trout, and providing habitat for migratory birds. Proper treatment helps prevent nutrient enrichment and maintains water quality in this sensitive watershed.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Fonte Arcada, within the parish of Escurquela e Fonte Arcada, Sernancelhe, Viseu, Portugal.
The plant serves approximately 9,300 people, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that flows into the Douro River basin, ultimately reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size unless the receiving waters are designated as sensitive.
For inland plants serving fewer than 10,000 people, secondary treatment is standard under the EU directive, unless a sensitive area requires more advanced treatment.
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