Beniarbeig Wastewater Treatment Plant: Advanced Treatment in Comunitat Valenciana, Spain

The Beniarbeig wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Beniarbeig, within the Marina Alta region of Alicante, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain. This facility serves a population of approximately 3,592 residents, providing advanced treatment to protect local water quality. The plant is situated near the Mediterranean coast, less than 10 kilometers from the shoreline. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,008 cubic meters per day and a discharge volume of 367.86 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth. The advanced treatment ensures high-quality effluent suitable for discharge into sensitive coastal environments. The treated wastewater is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Mediterranean Sea, contributing to the health of the coastal ecosystem. The region's rivers and streams support diverse aquatic life and are important for local agriculture and tourism. By maintaining advanced treatment standards, the plant helps preserve the ecological balance of the Mediterranean coastline and the broader watershed.

The Beniarbeig plant discharges into local streams that drain into the Mediterranean Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange and high ecological sensitivity. The coastal waters support seagrass meadows, fish nurseries, and migratory bird habitats. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication and algal blooms that can harm marine life and degrade water quality for tourism and fisheries.