ARROYO DE LA VIBORA, Marbella

Overview

ARROYO DE LA VIBORA wastewater treatment plant serves Marbella, Spain, with a designed capacity of 1.00 m³/s. It is located in Andalucía, near the Costa del Sol, and discharges into the Mediterranean Sea.

ARROYO DE LA VIBORA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Marbella, in the province of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 320,000 people, making it a large agglomeration under EU classification. The plant is situated in the coastal area of the Costa del Sol, a region known for its tourism and urban development. As a large agglomeration in a sensitive coastal area, the plant is expected to meet stringent treatment standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires tertiary treatment for discharges into sensitive areas, which likely applies here given the coastal location and high population served. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 m³/s, indicating significant infrastructure to handle the region's wastewater. The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, which is a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the marine environment and supporting the local tourism economy by ensuring that wastewater is adequately treated before release.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with high ecological sensitivity. The Costa del Sol coastline supports diverse marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and rocky reefs, which are vulnerable to nutrient enrichment and pollution. Proper treatment is essential to maintain water quality for tourism and marine biodiversity.

Frequently asked questions

ARROYO DE LA VIBORA is located in Marbella, in the province of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain, near the Costa del Sol.

The plant serves approximately 320,000 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU standards.

The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, which is a sensitive coastal environment requiring advanced treatment to protect marine ecosystems.

As a Spanish plant serving a large agglomeration in a coastal area, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates tertiary treatment for sensitive areas.

For large agglomerations in coastal sensitive areas, the EU directive requires tertiary treatment, including nutrient removal, to prevent eutrophication in the Mediterranean Sea.