Overview
Zona Urbana Vila Verde is a wastewater treatment plant serving Figueira da Foz, Portugal. It treats wastewater from approximately 51,800 people and discharges into the Mondego River basin.
Zona Urbana Vila Verde is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Vila Verde area of Figueira da Foz, in the Coimbra district of Portugal. The plant serves a population of approximately 51,800 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU classification. It is situated near the Mondego River, which flows through the region and into the Atlantic Ocean. As a Portuguese plant, Zona Urbana Vila Verde operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the discharge enters sensitive areas. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Mondego River catchment, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean near Figueira da Foz. The Mondego is the longest river entirely within Portugal and supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as the Iberian barbel. The downstream environment includes coastal wetlands and estuaries that are important for migratory birds and local fisheries.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Mondego River basin, which flows westward through central Portugal and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Figueira da Foz. The lower Mondego estuary supports a variety of habitats, including salt marshes and mudflats, which are critical for migratory waterbirds and commercial fish species. The region's coastal waters are influenced by upwelling, contributing to high marine productivity.
Frequently asked questions
Zona Urbana Vila Verde is located in the Vila Verde area of Figueira da Foz, in the Coimbra district of Portugal. The full address is Ciclovia do Mondego, Vila Verde, Figueira da Foz, Coimbra, 3090-646, Portugal.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Mondego River basin, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Figueira da Foz. The plant is within 50 km of the coast.
The plant protects the Mondego River, the longest river entirely within Portugal, by treating wastewater before discharge. This helps maintain water quality in the river and its downstream estuary.
As a plant serving approximately 51,800 people, Zona Urbana Vila Verde is classified as a medium agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The directive requires secondary treatment for such agglomerations, with potential for more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
In Portugal, wastewater treatment plants serving around 50,000 people typically employ secondary treatment processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters, as required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Some plants may also include tertiary treatment for nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas.
Nearby plants