Overview
EPELE wastewater treatment plant serves Bergara, Euskadi, Spain, treating wastewater for approximately 63,500 people. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
EPELE is a wastewater treatment plant located in Bergara, within the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country (Euskadi), Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 63,500 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under European Union regulations. As a Spanish facility, EPELE operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. Spanish regulations mandate compliance with discharge standards for organic matter, suspended solids, and nutrients. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Bay of Biscay via the Deba River basin. The Basque Country's rivers support diverse aquatic life, including salmonid populations, and the coastal waters are ecologically sensitive. Proper treatment helps protect these ecosystems from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.
Environmental context
EPELE discharges into the Deba River basin, which flows through the Basque Country and empties into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). The downstream environment includes estuarine and coastal habitats that support diverse marine life, including commercially important fish species. The region's steep terrain and high rainfall make water quality management critical for preventing erosion and nutrient runoff.
Frequently asked questions
EPELE is located in Bergara, in the province of Gipuzkoa, within the autonomous community of Euskadi (Basque Country), Spain. The address is Via verde del Vasco Navarro, Bergara.
EPELE serves approximately 63,500 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU regulations.
EPELE discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that are part of the Deba River basin, which flows into the Bay of Biscay.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalent must provide secondary treatment. EPELE, serving 63,500 people, is required to meet secondary treatment standards for organic matter and suspended solids.
In Spain, plants of this scale typically employ secondary biological treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet EU discharge standards. Some may also include nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas.
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