Overview
BAILEN wastewater treatment plant serves Bailén, Andalucía, Spain, with a population of 19,000. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The BAILEN wastewater treatment plant is located in Bailén, a municipality in the province of Jaén, within the autonomous community of Andalucía, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 19,000 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment as a minimum. The directive aims to protect the environment from the adverse effects of urban wastewater discharges. The plant is expected to comply with these standards. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Guadalquivir River basin. The Guadalquivir River flows through Andalucía and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The region supports diverse aquatic life and is important for agriculture and biodiversity.
Environmental context
The BAILEN plant discharges into the Guadalquivir River basin, which flows through southern Spain and into the Atlantic Ocean. The Guadalquivir is a major river supporting irrigated agriculture, wetlands, and estuarine ecosystems. Downstream, the Doñana wetlands are ecologically sensitive, hosting migratory birds and endangered species. The plant's treatment level is critical to preventing nutrient pollution and protecting these downstream habitats.
Frequently asked questions
The BAILEN wastewater treatment plant is located in Bailén, in the province of Jaén, Andalucía, Spain.
The plant serves approximately 19,000 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU standards.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which flows into the Guadalquivir River basin and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean.
As a medium agglomeration serving 19,000 people, the plant is required to provide at least secondary treatment under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) to protect water quality.
In Spain, plants serving agglomerations of this size typically employ secondary biological treatment, often with nutrient removal, to comply with EU directives and national regulations.
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