Overview
LOS ESCORIALES wastewater treatment plant serves El Escorial in the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain. It treats wastewater for approximately 21,562 people as part of the region's municipal infrastructure.
LOS ESCORIALES is a wastewater treatment plant located in El Escorial, within the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain. The facility serves a population of around 21,562 residents, supporting the urban area's sanitation needs. It is situated inland, away from coastal zones, and operates under Spain's national water regulations. As a plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration, LOS ESCORIALES is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for populations over 2,000 and more stringent treatment in sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes align with these standards to ensure compliance with European environmental norms. The treated effluent from LOS ESCORIALES is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Tagus River basin, a major hydrological system in the Iberian Peninsula. The Tagus River flows westward through Spain and Portugal, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant plays a key role in protecting the downstream aquatic environment, including the Tagus estuary, which supports diverse wildlife and is an important ecological corridor.
Environmental context
LOS ESCORIALES discharges into the Tagus River basin, which flows through central Spain and Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus River supports a variety of aquatic species and is a critical water resource for agriculture and urban areas. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive basin, reducing nutrient loads and preventing eutrophication in downstream reservoirs and the estuary.
Frequently asked questions
LOS ESCORIALES is located in El Escorial, in the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain, along the road from Madrid to El Escorial.
The plant serves approximately 21,562 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU standards.
Treated effluent from LOS ESCORIALES is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Tagus River basin, eventually reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
As a plant serving over 10,000 people, LOS ESCORIALES is required to meet secondary treatment standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), with possible tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
In Spain, plants of this scale typically employ secondary biological treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet EU standards. Some may include nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas.
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