ALCAUCIN Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alcaucín, Málaga, Andalucía, Spain

ALCAUCIN is a wastewater treatment plant located in Alcaucín, a municipality in the La Axarquía region of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,937 people and is designed with a capacity of 4,937 m³/day. It provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required for urban wastewater under EU regulations. As a plant in Spain, ALCAUCIN operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000. The plant's capacity aligns with this population tier, ensuring compliance with EU standards for organic matter and suspended solids removal. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Vélez River basin. The region's semi-arid climate and proximity to the coast make proper wastewater treatment essential for protecting both inland watercourses and marine ecosystems. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in the Axarquía region, an area known for its agricultural and tourism activities.

ALCAUCIN discharges treated wastewater into the local drainage network, which flows into the Vélez River and eventually reaches the Mediterranean Sea near the Costa del Sol. The downstream environment includes ecologically sensitive coastal waters that support diverse marine life and are important for regional tourism. Proper secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and organic pollution, protecting both freshwater habitats and the coastal marine ecosystem from eutrophication and other impacts.