Overview
ETAR de Los Tarajales is a wastewater treatment plant serving Güímar, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. It serves a population of 9,652 and is located near the coast.
ETAR de Los Tarajales is a wastewater treatment plant located in Puertito de Güímar, a coastal settlement in the municipality of Güímar on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 9,652 residents, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under Spanish and EU regulations. As a plant in Spain, ETAR de Los Tarajales operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Atlantic Ocean via the coastal waters of Tenerife. The surrounding marine environment supports diverse aquatic life, including seagrass meadows and fish populations. Proper treatment is essential to protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive coastal area, which is important for tourism and local fisheries.
Environmental context
ETAR de Los Tarajales discharges into the Atlantic Ocean near the southeastern coast of Tenerife. The receiving waters are part of the Canary Current ecosystem, which supports rich marine biodiversity including cetaceans, sea turtles, and pelagic fish. The plant's coastal location necessitates effective treatment to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect nearshore habitats such as seagrass beds and rocky reefs.
Frequently asked questions
ETAR de Los Tarajales is located in Puertito de Güímar, a coastal area in the municipality of Güímar on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. The address is Club Náutico Puertito de Güímar, Camino Las Bajas, Urbanización Las Palmeras.
The plant serves a population of approximately 9,652 people, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Atlantic Ocean via coastal waters near the southeastern coast of Tenerife. The discharge point is in a marine environment, requiring compliance with EU standards for coastal discharges.
As a Spanish plant, ETAR de Los Tarajales operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters. Compliance is enforced by regional authorities in the Canary Islands.
For agglomerations between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent, the EU UWWTD requires secondary treatment (biological treatment) for discharges to freshwater and estuaries, while coastal discharges may require primary treatment if studies show no adverse environmental impact. However, many Spanish plants in sensitive coastal areas implement secondary treatment as a best practice.
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