ECIJA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Écija, Andalucía, Spain

The ECIJA wastewater treatment plant is located in Écija, a city in the province of Seville, Andalucía, southern Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 53,588 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. As a Spanish facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with European standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Guadalquivir River basin. The Guadalquivir flows through Andalucía and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of Cádiz. The river supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region.

The plant discharges into the Guadalquivir River basin, which flows through southern Spain and into the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of Cádiz. The Guadalquivir is a major river supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems, including migratory fish species. The watershed is ecologically sensitive due to agricultural runoff and seasonal water scarcity, making effective wastewater treatment critical for maintaining water quality downstream.