FUENLLANA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Fuenllana, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

FUENLLANA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Fuenllana, a municipality in the province of Ciudad Real, within the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 825 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this small inland community. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000. Although the plant's population served is below 2,000, secondary treatment ensures effective removal of organic matter and suspended solids, protecting local water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Guadiana River basin. This region is part of the semi-arid La Mancha plain, where water resources are scarce and sensitive to pollution. The plant's operation helps safeguard the ecological health of downstream water bodies, supporting agricultural and natural ecosystems in the area.

The plant discharges into the Guadiana River basin, one of the major river systems in the Iberian Peninsula, which flows southwest into the Gulf of Cádiz (Atlantic Ocean). The receiving waters support irrigated agriculture and wetlands of ecological importance, including the Tablas de Daimiel National Park, a floodplain ecosystem that relies on groundwater and surface flows. Effective wastewater treatment is critical to prevent nutrient enrichment and maintain water quality in this semi-arid region.