Cortijos de Arriba Wastewater Treatment Plant, Los Cortijos, Castilla-La Mancha

Cortijos de Arriba is a wastewater treatment plant located in Los Cortijos, within the province of Ciudad Real in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The plant serves a small population of 2,325 residents, reflecting its role in a rural setting. It is situated inland, far 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 with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. This level of treatment ensures the removal of organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Guadiana River basin. The Guadiana River is one of the major rivers in the Iberian Peninsula, flowing through Spain and Portugal before reaching the Gulf of Cádiz. The plant's operations contribute to protecting the water quality of this important river system and its downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Guadiana River basin, a major hydrological system in central Spain. The Guadiana River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water source for agriculture and communities. Downstream, the river flows into the Gulf of Cádiz, affecting coastal ecosystems. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, safeguarding the river's ecological health.