Overview
HUELVA wastewater treatment plant serves the city of Huelva in Andalucía, Spain, with a population equivalent of 239,800. It is located near the coast and discharges into the Atlantic Ocean via the Odiel River estuary.
The HUELVA wastewater treatment plant is a major municipal facility serving the city of Huelva in the Andalucía region of southern Spain. With a population served of 239,800, it is classified as a large agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) 91/271/EEC, which requires advanced treatment for discharges into sensitive areas. As a large-scale plant, it is expected to provide at least secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment likely given the coastal location and environmental sensitivity of the receiving waters. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in cubic meters per second or similar unit), indicating substantial infrastructure to handle the region's wastewater. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Odiel River estuary, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near the Gulf of Cádiz. This area supports diverse marine life and is an important ecological zone, with salt marshes and wetlands that provide habitat for migratory birds and aquatic species.
Environmental context
The HUELVA plant discharges into the Odiel River, which forms a shared estuary with the Tinto River before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. This estuarine system is ecologically sensitive, supporting salt marshes, tidal flats, and diverse bird populations. The proximity to the coast (within 50 km) means that treated effluent can influence coastal water quality and marine ecosystems, making nutrient removal and disinfection critical for protecting the Gulf of Cádiz.
Frequently asked questions
The HUELVA plant is located in the city of Huelva, in the Andalucía region of southern Spain, near the confluence of the Odiel and Tinto rivers.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 239,800, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
Treated wastewater is discharged into the Odiel River estuary, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near the Gulf of Cádiz.
As a Spanish plant serving over 150,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment and likely tertiary treatment for sensitive coastal areas.
Plants of this scale in Spain typically provide secondary biological treatment, with additional nutrient removal and disinfection if discharging into sensitive coastal waters, as required by the EU UWWTD.
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