ELX ARENALES Wastewater Treatment Plant, Elx/Elche, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain

ELX ARENALES is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Urbanització Els Arenals del Sol, serving the city of Elx/Elche in the Comunitat Valenciana, Spain. The plant is designed to treat wastewater from a population of approximately 41,576 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU regulations. As a Spanish facility, ELX ARENALES operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also requires more advanced treatment if the discharge enters sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with European standards. The treated effluent from ELX ARENALES is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the coastal environment and supporting the region's tourism and agriculture by preventing untreated wastewater from reaching sensitive marine ecosystems.

ELX ARENALES discharges into the local drainage network that flows into the Mediterranean Sea near the Costa Blanca. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is an important tourist destination. The plant's operation helps protect water quality in the region, reducing nutrient pollution that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the coastal zone.