EL PERELLO Wastewater Treatment Plant, el Perelló, Catalunya, Spain

EL PERELLO is a wastewater treatment plant located in el Perelló, a municipality in the Baix Ebre comarca of Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain. The plant serves a population of 2,697 and is situated near the Mediterranean coast, less than 10 km from the shoreline. It operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for wastewater collection and treatment. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment typically required for smaller agglomerations under the EU directive. Advanced treatment includes additional steps to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, reducing the environmental impact on sensitive coastal waters. The designed capacity is 5,833 m³/day, with a reported discharge volume of 325.77 m³/day, indicating the plant operates well below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, likely via a local watercourse or directly through an outfall. The coastal waters of the Baix Ebre region support diverse marine life and are important for local fisheries and tourism. The advanced treatment helps protect the marine environment from nutrient pollution and other contaminants, contributing to the ecological health of the Catalan coast.

The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea, which is the final receiving water body for the region. The coastal waters near el Perelló are part of the larger Catalan Sea, a biodiversity hotspot supporting seagrass meadows, fish populations, and migratory species. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication and protect sensitive marine habitats. The area is also influenced by the Ebro River delta to the south, a ecologically significant wetland complex.