Overview
BEJAR wastewater treatment plant serves Béjar, Castilla y León, Spain, with a population equivalent of 102,259. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 15,000 PE.
The BEJAR wastewater treatment plant is located in Béjar, a municipality in the province of Salamanca, within the autonomous community of Castilla y León, Spain. The plant serves a population equivalent of 102,259, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. As a Spanish facility, BEJAR operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for all agglomerations above 2,000 PE and more stringent treatment for discharges into sensitive areas. For a plant of this scale, compliance with tertiary treatment standards may be expected if the receiving water body is designated as sensitive. The plant discharges into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Tajo (Tagus) River basin. The region's aquatic ecosystems rely on effective wastewater treatment to maintain water quality and support biodiversity, including migratory fish species and riparian habitats.
Environmental context
The BEJAR plant discharges into the Tajo River basin, which flows westward through Spain and Portugal before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including endemic fish species and migratory birds. Effective treatment is critical to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect downstream ecosystems, particularly in areas designated as sensitive under the EU UWWTD.
Frequently asked questions
The BEJAR plant is located in Béjar, a municipality in the province of Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castilla y León, Spain.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 102,259, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges into the local watershed, which is part of the Tajo River basin. The treated effluent ultimately flows to the Atlantic Ocean.
As a Spanish facility serving over 100,000 PE, BEJAR must comply with the EU UWWTD (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum and potentially tertiary treatment if the receiving water is a sensitive area.
In Spain, plants of this scale typically employ secondary biological treatment, and often include nutrient removal (tertiary treatment) to meet stringent discharge standards, especially in sensitive catchments.
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