ALOZAINA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alozaina, Andalucía, Spain

The ALOZAINA wastewater treatment plant is located in Alozaina, a town in the Sierra de las Nieves region of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,686 residents, reflecting its role as a small-scale municipal facility in a rural mountainous area. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. With a designed capacity of 2,500 m³/day and a reported discharge volume of 668.08 m³/day, the facility is operating well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Guadalhorce River basin. The plant's location in the Sierra de las Nieves, a mountainous area with sensitive ecosystems, underscores the importance of effective wastewater treatment to protect downstream water quality and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Guadalhorce River basin, which flows southward to the Mediterranean Sea near Málaga. The Sierra de las Nieves region is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and Mediterranean forest habitats. Proper treatment helps maintain water quality in the river and coastal areas, which are important for both local biodiversity and tourism.