ALCARAZ Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alcaraz, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

The ALCARAZ wastewater treatment plant is located in Alcaraz, a municipality in the province of Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The facility serves a population of approximately 2,500 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this inland community. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. This level of treatment ensures high-quality effluent suitable for discharge into sensitive environments. The plant handles a daily discharge volume of 202.65 cubic meters. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Guadalquivir River basin, which flows southwest to the Atlantic Ocean. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and supports the ecological health of the region's rivers and groundwater resources.

The plant discharges into the Guadalquivir River basin, which flows through southern Spain to the Atlantic Ocean. The region's semi-arid climate makes water quality management critical for sustaining local biodiversity and agricultural water reuse. The advanced treatment reduces nutrient loads, protecting downstream habitats and supporting the ecological integrity of the river system.