Overview
The CUENCA wastewater treatment plant serves the city of Cuenca in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, with a population equivalent of 107,000. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomeratio
The CUENCA wastewater treatment plant is located in Cuenca, a city in the Castilla-La Mancha region of central Spain. The plant serves a population equivalent of 107,000, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location along the Camino de El Terminillo places it within the Júcar River basin, which drains into the Mediterranean Sea. As a facility serving over 100,000 people, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum. For sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be mandated to reduce nutrient loads. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with discharge standards. The treated effluent is likely discharged into the Júcar River or its tributaries, which flow through the region and eventually reach the Mediterranean Sea. The Júcar basin supports diverse aquatic life and is important for irrigation and drinking water supply downstream. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this ecologically sensitive watershed.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Júcar River basin, which flows through central and eastern Spain before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea near Cullera. The Júcar River supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is a vital water resource for agriculture and urban areas. Downstream, the Albufera de Valencia lagoon is a ecologically sensitive coastal wetland that benefits from reduced nutrient pollution from upstream treatment plants.
Frequently asked questions
The CUENCA wastewater treatment plant is located at Camino de El Terminillo, Cuenca, in the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 107,000 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Júcar River basin, which flows through central Spain and eventually reaches the Mediterranean Sea.
As a Spanish plant serving over 100,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment and potentially tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving agglomerations over 100,000 people must provide at least secondary treatment. In sensitive areas, such as those draining into the Mediterranean, tertiary treatment for nutrient removal is often required.
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