LUQUE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Luque, Andalusia, Spain

LUQUE is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Luque, a town in the province of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,533 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Spanish and EU regulations. It operates secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process for removing organic matter and suspended solids. As a small-scale facility, LUQUE is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 3,533 population equivalents, matching the population served, and treats an average daily flow of 640.35 cubic meters. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Guadalquivir River basin, one of Spain's major river systems. The Guadalquivir flows southwest through Andalusia and empties into the Gulf of Cádiz (Atlantic Ocean). The plant's operations help protect downstream ecosystems, including the Guadalquivir's wetlands and estuarine habitats, which support diverse aquatic life and migratory birds.

The plant discharges into the Guadalquivir River basin, which flows through Andalusia to the Atlantic Ocean. The Guadalquivir supports ecologically sensitive wetlands and estuaries that are important for migratory birds and aquatic biodiversity. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollution, helping to maintain water quality in this downstream environment.