Los Gallardos Wastewater Treatment Plant, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

The Los Gallardos wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Los Gallardos, in the province of Almería, Andalucía, Spain. The facility served a population of approximately 5,555 people, placing it in the small agglomeration category under Spanish and EU regulations. The plant is currently closed, and its operational history reflects the wastewater management needs of this rural inland community. As a small agglomeration in Spain, the plant would have been subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity of 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day) suggests a modest facility. The plant is located within 50 km of the coast, but its inland position means treated effluent would likely have discharged into a local watercourse draining toward the Mediterranean Sea. The region's semi-arid climate and agricultural activity make wastewater treatment important for protecting local water quality and supporting irrigation reuse.

The plant is situated in the Almanzora River basin, which flows through Almería province into the Mediterranean Sea near Vera. The river supports irrigated agriculture and provides habitat for native fish and bird species. Downstream, the coastal waters are part of the Alboran Sea, an ecologically sensitive area with seagrass meadows and important fisheries. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect marine biodiversity in this semi-arid region.