Cadaqués Wastewater Treatment Plant: Coastal Catalonia Facility Serving 4,043 People

The Cadaqués wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Cadaqués, a coastal town in the Alt Empordà region of Catalonia, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,043 residents, reflecting the scale of a small Mediterranean coastal community. Its location near the Costa Brava places it within an ecologically sensitive coastal zone. As a Spanish facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000. For coastal discharges in sensitive areas, more stringent treatment may be required. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 cubic meters per day, indicating a small-scale infrastructure typical for a town of this size. The treated effluent is likely discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, either directly or via a short outfall, given the plant's proximity to the coast. The receiving waters support diverse marine life and are part of the broader Gulf of Roses ecosystem, which includes seagrass meadows and important fish nursery habitats. The plant plays a key role in protecting coastal water quality and supporting tourism and local biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea near the Gulf of Roses, a coastal area known for its clear waters and marine biodiversity. The region supports Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, which are critical for carbon sequestration and as nursery habitats for fish. The plant's operation helps prevent nutrient pollution that could lead to eutrophication in this sensitive coastal environment.