ELVALLE Wastewater Treatment Plant, El Valle, Andalucía, Spain

ELVALLE is a wastewater treatment plant located in El Valle, a municipality in the Comarca del Valle de Lecrín, Granada, Andalucía, Spain. The plant serves a population of 1,761 and is currently closed. It was designed with a capacity of 2,559 cubic meters per day and discharges an average volume of 319.18 cubic meters per day. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent). Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. As the plant is closed, it no longer operates, but its historical role was to treat wastewater from the local community. The treated effluent was discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Guadalfeo River basin. The Valle de Lecrín region is known for its agricultural activity and proximity to the Sierra Nevada National Park, making water quality protection important for both local ecosystems and downstream coastal areas.

The plant's discharge would have entered the local drainage network within the Guadalfeo River basin, which flows southward into the Mediterranean Sea near Motril. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is important for tourism and fisheries. The region's semi-arid climate means water resources are limited, making effective wastewater treatment critical for protecting both freshwater and marine environments.