CHELES Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cheles, Extremadura, Spain

The CHELES wastewater treatment plant is located in Cheles, a small town in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. It serves a population of around 2,000 residents, reflecting its role as a local municipal facility. The plant operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for wastewater collection and treatment across member states. As a secondary treatment plant, CHELES provides biological treatment that removes organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the EU directive's requirements for agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,746 cubic meters per day, with an average daily discharge of 362.49 cubic meters, indicating it operates well below its maximum capacity. The treated effluent from CHELES is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Guadiana River basin. The Guadiana River flows westward through Extremadura and into the Gulf of Cádiz (Atlantic Ocean). The plant's operations help protect the ecological health of the Guadiana River system, which supports diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities in the region.

CHELES discharges treated wastewater into the Guadiana River basin, a major Iberian watercourse that flows through Spain and Portugal before reaching the Gulf of Cádiz. The Guadiana River supports a variety of aquatic species and is an important resource for irrigation and drinking water in the region. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, safeguarding downstream ecosystems and water quality.