Overview
MAHON ES CASTELL wastewater treatment plant serves Maó on Menorca, Spain. It treats wastewater for approximately 24,056 people in the Balearic Islands.
MAHON ES CASTELL is a wastewater treatment plant located in Maó (Mahón), the capital of Menorca in the Balearic Islands, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 24,056 people, making it a medium-sized agglomeration under Spanish and EU regulations. Its location near the coast of the Mediterranean Sea places it in a sensitive marine environment. As a Spanish facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into coastal waters. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 cubic meters per day, though this figure may reflect a specific unit or reporting convention. The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, which surrounds Menorca. The island's coastal waters support diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish populations. Proper treatment is essential to protect bathing water quality and the ecological health of the Balearic Sea, a region known for its tourism and biodiversity.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea near Menorca, part of the Balearic Islands. The coastal waters are ecologically sensitive, supporting seagrass meadows (Posidonia oceanica) and diverse marine species. The Balearic Sea is an important migratory corridor and fishing ground. Effective wastewater treatment helps prevent nutrient enrichment and protect water quality for tourism and marine ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
MAHON ES CASTELL is located in Maó (Mahón), the capital of Menorca, in the Balearic Islands, Spain. The plant is situated near the coast, close to Cala Llonga and the Mola fortress area.
The plant serves approximately 24,056 people, representing a medium-sized agglomeration on the island of Menorca.
The treated wastewater is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, as the plant is located within 50 km of the coast. The discharge point is likely near the port of Maó, contributing to the marine environment of the Balearic Sea.
As a Spanish plant, MAHON ES CASTELL operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC. For agglomerations of 24,000 people discharging to coastal waters, secondary treatment is required, with potential additional nutrient removal if the area is designated as sensitive.
Under the EU directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 people in coastal areas typically require secondary treatment (biological treatment). In sensitive zones, tertiary treatment for nitrogen and phosphorus removal may be mandated to prevent eutrophication.
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