COFRENTES BALNEARIO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cofrentes, Spain

COFRENTES BALNEARIO is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Cofrentes, a municipality in the Comunitat Valenciana region of eastern Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,316 residents and is situated inland, away from coastal areas. It operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets treatment standards based on population size and receiving water sensitivity. The plant provides secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 2,000 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 74.57 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating it is sized to accommodate future growth or seasonal peaks. The treatment process aligns with EU requirements for agglomerations of this scale, which mandate secondary treatment as a minimum standard. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Júcar River basin. The Júcar River flows eastward into the Mediterranean Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems along its course. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality and contributes to the ecological health of the region's freshwater resources.

The plant discharges into the Júcar River basin, which flows through the Comunitat Valenciana region before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The Júcar River supports a variety of aquatic life and is an important water resource for agriculture and urban areas. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to maintain the ecological balance of the river and its downstream environments, including coastal waters.