HUMILLADERO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Fuente de Piedra, Andalucía

HUMILLADERO is a wastewater treatment plant located in Fuente de Piedra, within the province of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. The facility serves a population of approximately 3,651 people and is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the area. It operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for treatment based on population size and receiving water sensitivity. The plant provides secondary treatment, which involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 4,700 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 661.73 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is the standard requirement under the EU directive, ensuring compliance with environmental quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water resources, including nearby wetlands and groundwater systems. Its operation helps maintain water quality in the Guadalhorce River basin and supports the ecological health of the surrounding semi-arid landscape.

The plant discharges into local streams that feed into the Guadalhorce River, which flows southward to the Mediterranean Sea near Málaga. The region includes ecologically sensitive areas such as the Fuente de Piedra Lagoon, a vital habitat for flamingos and other waterbirds. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect these wetland ecosystems.