CORME PONTECESO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ponteceso, Galicia, Spain

CORME PONTECESO is a wastewater treatment plant located in the parish of Corme Porto, within the municipality of Ponteceso in the province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. The plant was designed to serve a population of 1,686 with an advanced treatment level, reflecting the region's commitment to high environmental standards. Its location near the Atlantic coast places it in a sensitive coastal area where advanced treatment helps protect marine ecosystems. The plant's treatment process is classified as advanced, which typically includes tertiary treatment steps such as nutrient removal or disinfection. With a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 305.58 m³/day, the facility operated well below its capacity. As a Spanish plant, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires advanced treatment for discharges into sensitive areas, including coastal zones. The plant's discharge likely entered the Atlantic Ocean via the Ría de Corme e Laxe, a coastal inlet that supports diverse marine life and is part of the larger Costa da Morte region. The area is ecologically sensitive, with important habitats for seabirds and marine species. The advanced treatment level would have helped minimize nutrient loading and protect the local marine environment.

The plant is situated on the Costa da Morte in Galicia, a rugged coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. Treated effluent likely discharged into the Ría de Corme e Laxe, a coastal ria that supports rich biodiversity, including seabird colonies and marine life. The area is part of the wider Atlantic biogeographic region, where nutrient pollution from wastewater can impact water quality and ecosystem health. Advanced treatment helps reduce such impacts, safeguarding the local marine environment.