ALCUBILLAS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alcubillas, Castilla-La Mancha

The ALCUBILLAS wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Alcubillas, within the province of Ciudad Real in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. This facility serves a small population of 1,164 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. Although the plant's population served is below this threshold, secondary treatment ensures effective removal of organic matter and suspended solids, protecting local water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Guadiana River basin. The Guadiana River flows westward through central Spain and Portugal before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The plant's operation helps safeguard the ecological health of this important river system, which supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities in the region.

The plant discharges into the Guadiana River basin, one of the major river systems in the Iberian Peninsula. The Guadiana flows through the semi-arid plains of Castilla-La Mancha, supporting irrigated agriculture and wetlands of ecological importance. Downstream, the river forms part of the border between Spain and Portugal before emptying into the Gulf of Cádiz. The treatment plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, protecting the river's aquatic ecosystems and the sensitive coastal waters of the Atlantic.