Overview
Costa Calma wastewater treatment plant serves Pájara in the Canary Islands, Spain. It is located near the coast and serves a population of 17,738.
The Costa Calma wastewater treatment plant is situated in the municipality of Pájara on the island of Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 17,738 residents and visitors in the coastal tourist area of Costa Calma. The plant is part of the regional water infrastructure managed by the Canary Islands government. As a facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, it operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment for discharges to coastal waters, with more advanced treatment if the area is designated as sensitive. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 cubic hectometer per year, indicating its scale relative to the local population. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean, as the facility is located within 50 km of the coast. The surrounding marine environment supports diverse aquatic life and is important for tourism and fisheries. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive coastal region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Atlantic Ocean near the southeastern coast of Fuerteventura. The coastal waters support seagrass meadows and marine biodiversity, and are part of the Canary Current Large Marine Ecosystem. The area is also important for migratory seabirds and marine species. Effective treatment helps prevent nutrient enrichment and protects the ecological balance of these waters.
Frequently asked questions
The Costa Calma wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Costa Calma, within the municipality of Pájara, on the island of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, Spain.
The plant serves a population of approximately 17,738 people, which includes residents and seasonal tourists in the coastal area of Costa Calma.
The treated wastewater from the Costa Calma plant is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean, as the facility is located near the southeastern coast of Fuerteventura.
As a Spanish facility serving a population over 10,000, the Costa Calma plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges to coastal waters and potentially more advanced treatment if the area is designated as sensitive.
For agglomerations of this size in Spain, secondary biological treatment is standard under the EU UWWTD. In coastal tourist areas like Costa Calma, plants often include nutrient removal to protect marine water quality.
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