LLERENA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Llerena, Extremadura, Spain

LLERENA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Llerena, a town in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. The facility serves a population equivalent of 13,800, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, approximately 50 km from the coast, and its operations are subject to Spanish and European wastewater treatment standards. As a medium-sized agglomeration, the plant is required to provide secondary treatment under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive sets minimum treatment levels to protect receiving water bodies from pollution. The regulatory framework ensures that the plant meets the necessary standards for organic matter and nutrient removal. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Guadiana River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Cádiz (Atlantic Ocean). The Guadiana River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the Iberian Peninsula. The plant's operation helps maintain water quality in this sensitive watershed, contributing to the protection of downstream habitats and biodiversity.

The LLERENA plant discharges into the Guadiana River basin, which flows through Extremadura and into the Gulf of Cádiz. The Guadiana River supports a variety of fish species and provides critical habitat for migratory birds. The watershed is ecologically sensitive, with areas of high conservation value that rely on good water quality. Proper treatment at LLERENA helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, safeguarding the river's ecological health and the downstream marine environment.