EL ROMPIDO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cartaya, Andalucía, Spain

EL ROMPIDO is a wastewater treatment plant located in Cartaya, within the Costa Occidental region of Huelva, Andalucía, Spain. It serves a population equivalent of approximately 7,691 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under Spanish and EU regulations. The plant is situated near the coastal area, less than 50 km from the Atlantic Ocean, and its operations are subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). As a plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, it falls under the category of agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000, which under the EU directive requires appropriate treatment (secondary or equivalent) before discharge into coastal waters. The designed capacity is reported as 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar unit), indicating a modest scale. The plant is expected to comply with Spanish national regulations transposing the EU directive. The treated effluent is discharged into the Piedras River estuary, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near the Gulf of Cádiz. This coastal environment supports diverse marine life, including fish nurseries and migratory bird habitats. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the estuary and the adjacent coastal zone from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

The plant discharges into the Piedras River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean via the Gulf of Cádiz. This coastal area is ecologically sensitive, supporting seagrass meadows, fish spawning grounds, and important bird populations. The estuary provides a transition zone between freshwater and marine environments, requiring careful management of nutrient loads to prevent eutrophication and maintain biodiversity.