Cabo de Gata Wastewater Treatment Plant, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Cabo de Gata is a wastewater treatment plant located in the coastal area of Almería, in the Andalucía region of southern Spain. It serves a population of approximately 4,092 people, making it a small-scale facility within the region's wastewater infrastructure. The plant is situated near the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, a protected coastal area known for its ecological significance. 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 6,000 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 741.66 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variations. As a coastal plant, it must meet stringent standards to protect the marine environment. The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, which is a sensitive marine ecosystem. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protect the coastal waters of the Cabo de Gata region, which supports diverse marine life and is an important area for tourism and conservation.

The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea near the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, a coastal area with high ecological value. The receiving waters support seagrass meadows, coral formations, and diverse fish species. Advanced treatment reduces the risk of eutrophication and protects the sensitive marine environment from nutrient pollution.