CANILLAS DE ACEITUNO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Canillas de Aceituno, Andalucía

The CANILLAS DE ACEITUNO wastewater treatment plant is located in Canillas de Aceituno, a municipality in the province of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. It serves a small population of 1,536 people and is situated in the La Axarquía region, near the coast. The plant is currently closed. As a secondary treatment facility, the plant would have provided biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids. For a small agglomeration of this size, Spanish regulations under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) require appropriate treatment before discharge. The plant's designed capacity of 1,900 m³/day indicates it was sized to handle the community's wastewater flows. The plant is located within 10 km of the coast, meaning its treated effluent would have discharged into a coastal water body, likely the Mediterranean Sea via local streams or directly. The surrounding area is part of the Axarquía region, known for its agricultural activity and proximity to the Costa del Sol. The plant's closure may have implications for local water quality, but alternative treatment arrangements may be in place.

The plant's discharge would have entered the Mediterranean Sea via small coastal streams in the Axarquía region. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is important for tourism and fisheries. The proximity to the coast means that any discharge could affect nearshore water quality and sensitive marine habitats. The plant's closure may reduce nutrient inputs to the coastal zone, but the overall watershed health depends on other local treatment facilities.