Almodóvar del Campo Wastewater Treatment Plant - Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

The Almodóvar del Campo wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Almodóvar del Campo, in the province of Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 12,508 people, making it a medium-sized agglomeration under Spanish and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for inland agglomerations of this size. The directive mandates secondary treatment for all discharges from agglomerations of over 2,000 population equivalent, ensuring organic matter and suspended solids are substantially reduced. The treated effluent is discharged into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Guadiana River basin. This river system is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities in the region. Proper treatment helps protect water quality in the Guadiana and its tributaries.

The plant discharges into the Guadiana River basin, one of the major river systems in the Iberian Peninsula, flowing into the Gulf of Cádiz. The Guadiana supports a variety of habitats and species, including migratory fish and waterbirds. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollution, helping maintain the ecological balance of the river and its downstream environments.