ALMADEN Wastewater Treatment Plant, Almadén, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

The ALMADEN wastewater treatment plant is located in Almadén, a municipality in the province of Ciudad Real, within the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,600 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this inland community. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required 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 protect sensitive receiving waters, aligning with Spain's implementation of the directive for inland areas. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Guadiana River basin, which flows southwest into the Gulf of Cádiz (Atlantic Ocean). The advanced treatment helps safeguard the ecological health of the Guadiana River system, which supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Guadiana River basin, one of the major river systems in the Iberian Peninsula, which flows through central and southern Spain into the Atlantic Ocean. The Guadiana supports a variety of ecosystems, including wetlands and riparian habitats, and is an important migratory corridor for birds. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting downstream water quality and aquatic biodiversity.