LA FOIA DE QUARTELL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Quartell, Comunitat Valenciana

LA FOIA DE QUARTELL is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the industrial estate of La Foia, Quartell, in the Camp de Morvedre region of Valencia, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,391 people and operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). As a secondary treatment facility, the plant provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the EU directive's requirements for agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 18,333 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of 187.19 m³/day, indicating it operates well below its design capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment, which is within 10 km of the Mediterranean coastline. The plant plays a key role in protecting the coastal waters of the Gulf of Valencia, a region known for its tourism and marine ecosystems. By treating wastewater to secondary standards, it helps prevent nutrient pollution and safeguards water quality in the nearby marine environment.

The plant discharges into a coastal area within 10 km of the Mediterranean Sea, specifically the Gulf of Valencia. This region supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries and tourism. The treated effluent, after secondary treatment, enters a watercourse that flows into the Mediterranean, where nutrient loading must be managed to prevent eutrophication. The plant's operation helps maintain the ecological health of the coastal zone, which is part of a broader watershed that includes agricultural and industrial areas.