Overview
CARINENA wastewater treatment plant serves Cariñena, Aragón, Spain, with a population equivalent of 61,190. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The CARINENA wastewater treatment plant is located in Cariñena, a town in the Campo de Cariñena comarca of Zaragoza province, Aragón, Spain. Serving a population equivalent of 61,190, the plant is classified as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location in the Ebro River basin places it within a region characterized by a semi-arid climate and agricultural activity, including vineyards that produce the renowned Cariñena wine. As a Spanish facility, CARINENA is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's compliance with the directive ensures a minimum level of treatment before discharge. The treated effluent from CARINENA is discharged into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Ebro River. The Ebro is one of Spain's major rivers, flowing into the Mediterranean Sea via the Ebro Delta, a ecologically significant area that supports diverse aquatic life and important migratory bird populations. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in this sensitive basin.
Environmental context
CARINENA discharges into the Ebro River basin, which flows through northeastern Spain to the Mediterranean Sea. The Ebro Delta is a critical habitat for numerous bird species and supports extensive rice farming and fisheries. The plant's treatment helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, safeguarding the ecological health of the river and its delta, which is a vital stopover for migratory birds.
Frequently asked questions
The CARINENA wastewater treatment plant is located in Cariñena, in the Campo de Cariñena comarca of Zaragoza province, Aragón, Spain.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 61,190, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local water network, which flows into the Ebro River and eventually reaches the Mediterranean Sea via the Ebro Delta.
As a Spanish facility, CARINENA operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of its size and potentially tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 PE must provide at least secondary treatment. In Spain, many such plants also incorporate nutrient removal to meet water quality standards in sensitive basins like the Ebro.
Nearby plants