Alcalà de Xivert Wastewater Treatment Plant | Comunitat Valenciana, Spain

The Alcalà de Xivert wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility located in the Baix Maestrat region of Castellón, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain. It serves a population of 4,221 and operates with advanced treatment, reflecting the high environmental standards required for coastal communities in the Mediterranean basin. As an advanced treatment plant, it goes beyond the secondary treatment mandated by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,166 m³/day and currently treats an average discharge volume of 936.15 m³/day, indicating ample capacity for current loads. The facility is situated near the coast, which necessitates stringent nutrient removal to protect marine water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, likely via a local watercourse or outfall. The coastal waters of the Valencian Community support diverse marine life and are important for tourism and fisheries. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the ecological health of the adjacent marine environment.

The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. The coastal waters near Alcalà de Xivert support seagrass meadows and diverse fish populations. Advanced treatment reduces nitrogen and phosphorus loads, helping to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality for recreational use and marine biodiversity.