ALCANAR Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alcanar, Catalunya, Spain

ALCANAR is a wastewater treatment plant located in Alcanar, a municipality in the Montsià comarca of Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 7,106 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU classification. It is situated near the Mediterranean coast, within 10 km of the shoreline, which influences its environmental sensitivity. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater and estuarine discharges from agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 9,000 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 848.96 m³/day, indicating operational capacity well below design. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment, likely into a nearby watercourse or directly to the Mediterranean Sea, given the coastal proximity. The plant plays a key role in protecting the coastal waters of the Costa Daurada, supporting bathing water quality and marine ecosystems. Downstream, the discharge contributes to the broader Mediterranean basin, which is ecologically sensitive and supports diverse marine life.

The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea via local watercourses in the Montsià region. The coastal waters are part of the Gulf of Sant Jordi, an area known for its sandy beaches and marine biodiversity. The discharge must meet stringent standards to protect bathing waters and sensitive marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and fish spawning grounds. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its effluent directly influences nearshore water quality and the ecological health of the Mediterranean littoral zone.