ATECA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ateca, Aragón, Spain

ATECA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Ateca, within the province of Zaragoza in the autonomous community of Aragón, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 2,164 residents, classifying it as a small 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 freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 6,500 m³/day, with an average daily discharge volume of 392.22 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Ebro River basin. The Ebro River is one of Spain's major rivers, flowing into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and supporting the ecological health of the downstream river system.

The plant discharges into the Ebro River basin, which flows through northeastern Spain and empties into the Mediterranean Sea via the Ebro Delta. The delta is an ecologically sensitive area that supports diverse aquatic life and important migratory bird populations. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and protect downstream water quality.