Overview
FUENGIROLA wastewater treatment plant serves Mijas, Andalucía, Spain, with a population equivalent of 137,105. It is located near the Costa del Sol and discharges into the Mediterranean Sea.
The FUENGIROLA wastewater treatment plant is a major municipal facility serving the city of Mijas in the province of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. Located on the Costa del Sol, this plant handles wastewater from a population equivalent of 137,105, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant's coastal location underscores its importance in protecting the region's marine environment. As a large agglomeration in a sensitive coastal area, the plant is expected to meet stringent treatment standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum, and often tertiary treatment for discharges into sensitive areas such as the Mediterranean Sea. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in cubic meters per second or similar unit), indicating its scale of operation. The treated effluent from the FUENGIROLA plant is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, which is a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. The plant plays a crucial role in preventing eutrophication and protecting marine biodiversity along the Costa del Sol, a region heavily reliant on tourism and coastal ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with high ecological sensitivity. The Costa del Sol coastline supports diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries, which are vulnerable to nutrient enrichment from wastewater. The plant's operations help maintain water quality for tourism and fisheries in the region.
Frequently asked questions
The FUENGIROLA plant is located in Mijas, in the province of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain, on the Costa del Sol near the Mediterranean coast.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 137,105, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, a sensitive coastal environment. The plant's coastal location requires advanced treatment to protect marine ecosystems.
As a Spanish plant in the EU, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for large agglomerations and tertiary treatment in sensitive areas like the Mediterranean.
For large agglomerations in coastal Spain, typical treatment includes secondary biological treatment followed by disinfection, and often tertiary nutrient removal to meet stringent discharge standards for sensitive marine waters.
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