ALMACHAR EL BORGE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Almáchar, Andalucía

ALMACHAR EL BORGE wastewater treatment plant is located in Almáchar, a municipality in the province of Málaga, within the autonomous community of Andalucía, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,000 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under European Union classification standards. Its coastal proximity places it within a sensitive area requiring robust treatment to protect marine ecosystems. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment mandated by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to prevent eutrophication in receiving waters. The designed capacity of 4,000 cubic meters per day aligns with the population served, indicating adequate infrastructure for current demand. The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea via local watercourses, as the plant is within 10 km of the coast. This discharge contributes to the health of coastal waters, which support diverse marine life and are important for tourism and fisheries in the region. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize environmental impact on the sensitive Mediterranean coastal zone.

The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. The local watershed includes small coastal streams that drain the Axarquía region, an area known for agriculture and tourism. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient loads, protecting marine habitats such as seagrass meadows and coral formations from eutrophication and algal blooms.