ATALERREKA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Hondarribia, Spain

ATALERREKA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Hondarribia, within the Basque Country (Euskadi) region of northern Spain. The facility serves a population equivalent of 116,581, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location near the coast and the Bidasoa River places it in an environmentally sensitive area. As a large agglomeration in Spain, the plant is required to meet the standards of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment as a minimum and tertiary treatment for discharges into sensitive areas. The designed capacity is 1. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Bidasoa River, which flows into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). This coastal region supports diverse marine life and is an important ecological area. The plant's performance is critical for protecting the river's water quality and the downstream marine environment, which is subject to EU water quality standards.

The ATALERREKA plant discharges into the Bidasoa River, which flows into the Bay of Biscay, part of the Atlantic Ocean. The Bidasoa estuary is an ecologically sensitive area that supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species. The coastal waters near Hondarribia are used for recreation and fishing, making the plant's treatment performance important for maintaining water quality and ecosystem health.