Overview
BAINA wastewater treatment plant serves Mieres, Asturias, Spain, with a population equivalent of 56,254. The plant operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
BAINA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Mieres, within the Asturias region of northern Spain. It serves a population equivalent of 56,254, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Caudal River, a tributary of the Nalón River, which flows into the Cantabrian Sea. As a facility in an EU member state, BAINA is subject to the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this scale (between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalent), the directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum, with more stringent treatment if the discharge enters a sensitive area. The treated effluent from BAINA ultimately reaches the Cantabrian Sea via the Nalón River system. This coastal region supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries and tourism. The plant's operation contributes to protecting water quality in the river and downstream coastal environment, aligning with Spain's national water management goals under the Water Framework Directive.
Environmental context
BAINA discharges into the Caudal River, a tributary of the Nalón River, which flows northward to the Cantabrian Sea. The Nalón basin is the largest river system in Asturias and supports a variety of aquatic habitats, including salmonid populations. The coastal zone near the river mouth is ecologically sensitive, hosting diverse marine species and serving as a migratory corridor for birds. Protecting water quality in this system is critical for maintaining regional biodiversity and supporting local economic activities such as fishing and tourism.
Frequently asked questions
BAINA is located in Mieres, in the Asturias region of northern Spain, near the Caudal River.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 56,254, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated effluent from BAINA is discharged into the Caudal River, which flows into the Nalón River and eventually reaches the Cantabrian Sea.
As a Spanish plant, BAINA operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and more stringent treatment if discharging into sensitive areas.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 100,000 population equivalent are required to provide at least secondary treatment. In Spain, many such plants also incorporate nutrient removal to meet Water Framework Directive goals, especially when discharging into sensitive water bodies.
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