CARCHELEJO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cárcheles, Andalucía, Spain

CARCHELEJO is a wastewater treatment plant located in Cárcheles, a municipality in the province of Jaén, Andalucía, Spain. The plant serves a population of 1,521 and operates secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment for organic matter removal. Its designed capacity is 2,574 m³/day, with an average daily discharge volume of 275.68 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. As a Spanish facility, CARCHELEJO operates under the national transposition of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations under 2,000 population equivalent, secondary treatment is typically required, and this plant meets that standard. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with discharge limits to protect receiving waters. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Guadalquivir River basin. The Guadalquivir River flows through Andalucía and empties into the Gulf of Cádiz (Atlantic Ocean). The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural irrigation, making proper treatment essential for water quality.

CARCHELEJO discharges into the Guadalquivir River basin, which flows through southern Spain to the Atlantic Ocean. The Guadalquivir is a major river supporting irrigated agriculture, wetlands, and estuarine ecosystems. Downstream, the river passes through ecologically sensitive areas that provide habitat for migratory birds and fish species. Effective secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loading, protecting these downstream environments.