ILLA DE AROUSA, Arousa | Spain Wastewater

Overview

ILLA DE AROUSA wastewater treatment plant serves the island municipality of A Illa de Arousa in Galicia, Spain. It treats wastewater from a population of approximately 7,226 people.

ILLA DE AROUSA is a wastewater treatment plant located on the island of A Illa de Arousa, part of the municipality of Arousa in the province of Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain. The plant serves a population of about 7,226 residents, reflecting the scale of a small coastal community. Its designed capacity is 1.00 cubic hectometer per year, indicating a facility sized for the local demand. As a Spanish wastewater treatment plant, ILLA DE AROUSA operates under the national transposition of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000, the directive requires secondary treatment or equivalent. It is expected to meet these regulatory standards. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the surrounding waters of the Ría de Arousa, a coastal inlet of the Atlantic Ocean. This estuary supports diverse marine life, including shellfish beds and migratory bird populations. The plant's location on an island emphasizes the importance of proper treatment to protect the sensitive coastal ecosystem and the local shellfish industry.

Environmental context

ILLA DE AROUSA discharges into the Ría de Arousa, a large estuary on the Atlantic coast of Galicia. The ría is a productive marine environment supporting shellfish aquaculture, particularly mussels and clams, and serves as a habitat for seabirds and fish. The plant's coastal location means treated effluent enters a dynamic tidal system, where dilution and dispersion are influenced by oceanic currents. Protecting water quality in the ría is critical for both ecological health and the local economy.

Frequently asked questions

ILLA DE AROUSA is located on the island of A Illa de Arousa, in the municipality of Arousa, province of Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain.

The plant serves approximately 7,226 people, representing the resident population of the island community.

The plant discharges treated effluent into the Ría de Arousa, a coastal estuary that flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

As a Spanish plant serving a population between 2,000 and 10,000, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for such agglomerations.

Under the EU directive, plants serving 2,000 to 10,000 population equivalent typically employ secondary biological treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet effluent quality standards.