Overview
BIERZO BAJO wastewater treatment plant serves Villadepalos in Castilla y León, Spain, with a population equivalent of 132,381. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
BIERZO BAJO is a wastewater treatment plant located in Villadepalos, within the municipality of Carracedelo in the El Bierzo region of León, Castilla y León, Spain. Serving a population equivalent of 132,381, it is classified as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. As a large agglomeration, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment as a minimum and tertiary treatment in sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these standards, ensuring compliance with Spanish and European water quality regulations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Sil River, a tributary of the Miño River. The Miño River flows into the Atlantic Ocean at the border between Spain and Portugal. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the aquatic ecosystems of the Sil and Miño basins from nutrient pollution and organic load.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Sil River basin, which flows into the Miño River and then to the Atlantic Ocean. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species. The region's climate is continental Mediterranean, with seasonal rainfall affecting river flows. The plant's treatment helps prevent eutrophication in downstream waters and protects the ecological integrity of the Miño-Sil river system.
Frequently asked questions
BIERZO BAJO is located in Villadepalos, a locality in the municipality of Carracedelo, within the El Bierzo region of León, Castilla y León, Spain.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 132,381, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated wastewater from BIERZO BAJO is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Sil River, a tributary of the Miño River, ultimately reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
As a large agglomeration serving over 100,000 people, BIERZO BAJO is required to meet secondary treatment standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). In sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may also be required to reduce nutrient loads.
In Spain, wastewater treatment plants serving large agglomerations typically employ secondary biological treatment, often with nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to comply with EU directives and protect sensitive water bodies.
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