GATOVA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Gátova, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain

The GATOVA wastewater treatment plant is located in Gátova, a municipality in the Comunitat Valenciana region of eastern Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 594 residents and has a designed capacity of 2000 cubic meters per day, with a reported discharge volume of 180 cubic meters per day. It operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. As a secondary treatment facility, GATOVA employs biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's capacity utilization is low relative to its design, indicating ample reserve capacity for future growth or seasonal variations. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with effluent standards set by the Spanish government and the European Union. The treated wastewater is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local watershed and downstream aquatic ecosystems from pollution. Its location inland, more than 10 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact, but the receiving waters contribute to the broader hydrological network of the Turia River basin.

The GATOVA plant discharges into a tributary of the Turia River, which flows eastward into the Mediterranean Sea near Valencia. The Turia River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the region. The plant's secondary treatment helps maintain water quality in the river, protecting downstream habitats and recreational uses. The watershed is characterized by Mediterranean climate conditions, with seasonal rainfall patterns that influence river flow and dilution capacity.