CIFUENTES Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cifuentes, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

The CIFUENTES wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Cifuentes, in the province of Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 2,193 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the region's water management infrastructure. 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 of this size. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. As a small agglomeration, the plant is subject to national regulations that align with EU directives, ensuring adequate treatment before discharge. The treated effluent from the CIFUENTES plant is discharged into a local watercourse, which eventually flows into the Tagus River basin, one of the most important river systems in Spain. The Tagus River drains into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon, Portugal. The plant's operations contribute to protecting the local watershed and downstream ecosystems, including the Tagus River, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for irrigation and drinking water supply.

The CIFUENTES plant discharges into a local stream that is part of the Tagus River basin. The Tagus River flows westward through central Spain and Portugal, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at the Tagus Estuary near Lisbon. This estuary is an ecologically sensitive area that supports migratory birds and diverse marine life. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, protecting water quality in the downstream river and estuary.