ALMUNECAR Wastewater Treatment Plant, Almuñécar, Andalucía

The ALMUNECAR wastewater treatment plant is located in Almuñécar, a coastal town in the province of Granada, Andalucía, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 124,700, classifying it as a large agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated near the Mediterranean Sea, within 50 km of the coast, and its operations are critical for protecting the local marine environment. As a large agglomeration, the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment under the EU UWWTD, with potential tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The designed capacity is 1. The plant operates within Spain's regulatory framework, which implements the EU directive through national legislation. The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, likely via a marine outfall or a nearby river. The coastal waters of the Costa Granadina support diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish populations, and are important for local tourism and fisheries. The plant plays a key role in preventing nutrient pollution and safeguarding water quality in this ecologically sensitive coastal zone.

The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Mediterranean Sea along the Costa Granadina, a coastal region known for its biodiversity and tourism. The receiving waters ultimately flow into the Alboran Sea, a part of the western Mediterranean. This area supports seagrass meadows and is a migratory corridor for marine species. Nutrient loading from wastewater could lead to eutrophication, so effective treatment is essential for maintaining water quality and ecosystem health.