Cómpeta Wastewater Treatment Plant - Andalucía, Spain

The Cómpeta wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Cómpeta, in the La Axarquía region of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 2,534 residents, reflecting a small coastal community. The plant is situated within 10 km of the Mediterranean Sea, placing it in a sensitive coastal zone. The facility employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations under 10,000 population equivalent. The plant has a designed capacity of 3,200 m³/day and currently discharges an average of 459.28 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. As a Spanish facility, it operates under national regulations that transpose EU directives, with permits issued by the regional water authority (Confederación Hidrográfica). The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that drains into the Mediterranean Sea, contributing to the protection of coastal water quality. The region's semi-arid climate and tourism-dependent economy make effective wastewater treatment critical for preserving bathing waters and marine ecosystems along the Costa del Sol.

The plant's discharge ultimately reaches the Mediterranean Sea via local streams in the Axarquía region. This coastal area supports diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries, and is important for tourism. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and pathogen release, protecting both ecological health and recreational water quality.