EDAR de Punta del Hidalgo - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife

EDAR de Punta del Hidalgo is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Punta del Hidalgo area of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain. The plant serves a population of around 7,143 residents and is situated along the coastal zone, reflecting the island's urban and tourist development. 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 of this size. Secondary treatment effectively removes organic matter and suspended solids, ensuring that the effluent meets quality standards before discharge. The plant has a designed capacity of 10,833 cubic meters per day and currently treats an average daily flow of 721.35 cubic meters, indicating ample reserve capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean near Punta del Hidalgo. This discharge point is within 10 km of the coast, making the plant's performance critical for protecting the marine environment, including nearby bathing waters and sensitive coastal ecosystems. The Canary Islands rely on healthy coastal waters for tourism, fisheries, and biodiversity.

The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Atlantic Ocean off the northern coast of Tenerife, near Punta del Hidalgo. This coastal area supports diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and rocky reef habitats. The discharge is regulated under Spanish and EU water quality standards to minimize nutrient loading and protect bathing waters, which are vital for local tourism and recreation.