Albanchez de Mágina Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jaén, Andalucía, Spain

The Albanchez de Mágina wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Albanchez de Mágina, in the province of Jaén, Andalucía, Spain. It serves a small population of 1,440 people and has a designed capacity of 2,000 cubic meters per day. The plant is currently closed. As a secondary treatment facility, it would have provided biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000 are required to have appropriate treatment, typically secondary. However, this plant's population served is below 2,000, so it falls outside the directive's mandatory scope for collecting systems, though it still contributes to local water quality. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Guadalquivir River basin. The Guadalquivir River flows through Andalucía and empties into the Gulf of Cádiz (Atlantic Ocean). The plant's operation helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and supports the ecological health of the region's water bodies.

The plant is located inland in the Guadalquivir River basin, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Gulf of Cádiz. The receiving water body is likely a local stream or river that feeds into the Guadalquivir. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for agriculture and biodiversity in Andalucía. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect downstream ecosystems.