LOS SANTOS DE MAIMONA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Extremadura, Spain

The LOS SANTOS DE MAIMONA wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Los Santos de Maimona, within the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 13,700 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union classification standards. As a Spanish wastewater treatment facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these regulatory standards, ensuring compliance with national and European water quality objectives. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Guadiana River basin. The Guadiana River flows westward through Extremadura and into the Gulf of Cádiz (Atlantic Ocean). The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Guadiana basin, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream water uses.

The plant discharges into the Guadiana River basin, which flows through Extremadura and into the Gulf of Cádiz in the Atlantic Ocean. The Guadiana River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water resource for agriculture and human consumption. The region's Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters influences seasonal flow patterns, making effective wastewater treatment critical to maintaining water quality during low-flow periods.