Garganta la Olla, Garganta la Olla

Overview

Garganta la Olla wastewater treatment plant serves 2,600 people in Extremadura, Spain, with secondary treatment. It discharges 471.24 m³/day and has a designed capacity of 2,795 m³/day.

The Garganta la Olla wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Garganta la Olla, in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,600 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Spanish and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,795 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 471.24 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Tagus River basin, one of the most important river systems in the Iberian Peninsula. The plant plays a key role in protecting local streams and the downstream aquatic environment from organic pollution and nutrient loading.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into a small stream that flows into the Tiétar River, a tributary of the Tagus River. The Tagus River runs through central Spain and Portugal before reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon. The local watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a region known for its natural landscapes, including the nearby Monfragüe National Park. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive area.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located on EX-391, Barrio La Huerta, in the municipality of Garganta la Olla, province of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain.

The plant serves approximately 2,600 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU wastewater regulations.

The treated effluent is discharged into a local stream that flows into the Tiétar River, a tributary of the Tagus River, which ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean.

The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size.

In Spain, wastewater treatment plants serving agglomerations between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent must comply with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for freshwater discharges.