Overview
ELX ALGOROS wastewater treatment plant serves Elx/Elche in Comunitat Valenciana, Spain, treating wastewater for approximately 256,899 people. The plant operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
ELX ALGOROS is a major wastewater treatment plant located in Elx/Elche, within the Baix Vinalopó region of Alicante, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain. Serving a population of approximately 256,899, it is classified as a large agglomeration under EU regulations, requiring advanced treatment to protect sensitive receiving waters. As a plant of this scale in Spain, ELX ALGOROS is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment as a minimum and tertiary treatment for discharges into sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in cubic meters per day or equivalent), indicating a substantial infrastructure capable of handling the region's wastewater load. The treated effluent from ELX ALGOROS ultimately discharges into the Mediterranean Sea, likely via the Vinalopó River or coastal outfalls. The receiving waters support diverse marine life and are important for tourism and fisheries in the Costa Blanca region. The plant plays a critical role in preventing nutrient pollution and safeguarding coastal water quality.
Environmental context
The plant's discharge enters the Vinalopó River basin, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea near the coast of Alicante. This coastal zone supports seagrass meadows and fish nurseries, making it ecologically sensitive to nutrient enrichment. The Mediterranean Sea in this area is a semi-enclosed basin with limited water exchange, so effective nutrient removal is essential to prevent eutrophication and algal blooms.
Frequently asked questions
ELX ALGOROS is located in Elx/Elche, in the Baix Vinalopó region of Alicante, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain.
The plant serves approximately 256,899 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Vinalopó River basin, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea near the Costa Blanca coast.
As a Spanish plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment and potentially tertiary treatment for sensitive areas.
For large agglomerations in Spain, secondary treatment is standard, with tertiary treatment often required for discharges into sensitive coastal or river environments to reduce nutrients.
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