CANJAYAR Wastewater Treatment Plant, Canjáyar, Andalucía, Spain

The CANJAYAR wastewater treatment plant is located in Canjáyar, a municipality in the province of Almería, within the autonomous community of Andalucía, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,400 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this small inland community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. With a designed capacity of 2,842 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 253.75 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant's location more than 10 km from the coast reduces direct marine impact, but its proximity to the sea (within 50 km) means that the receiving waters contribute to the coastal ecosystem of the Alboran Sea, which supports diverse marine life and is an important migratory corridor for species such as the loggerhead sea turtle.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows through the Andarax River basin, eventually reaching the Mediterranean Sea near Almería. This coastal area is part of the Alboran Sea, a biodiverse region that serves as a critical migratory route for marine species and supports seagrass meadows and fisheries. The secondary treatment provided helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, protecting downstream aquatic habitats from eutrophication.