Betanzos Wastewater Treatment Plant - Galicia, Spain

The Betanzos wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Betanzos, in the province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 22,519, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the coast, within 50 km of the Atlantic Ocean, and its operations are critical for protecting the local marine environment. As a plant operating under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), Betanzos is required to meet secondary treatment standards for its population size. The directive mandates that agglomerations with a population equivalent between 10,000 and 150,000 must have secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment required if discharging into sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 m³/day, indicating a relatively small facility. The treated effluent from Betanzos likely discharges into the nearby Atlantic Ocean via the Ría de Betanzos, an estuary that supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the Galician coastal ecosystem. The plant plays a key role in maintaining water quality in this ecologically sensitive area, which is important for local fisheries and tourism.

The Betanzos plant discharges into the Ría de Betanzos, an estuary that flows into the Atlantic Ocean along the Galician coast. This estuarine environment supports a rich diversity of marine species and is an important area for shellfish and finfish. The plant's treatment performance is crucial for preventing nutrient enrichment and protecting the ecological balance of the ria, which is also a popular area for recreation and tourism.