Overview
MARIA wastewater treatment plant serves the municipality of María in Andalucía, Spain. It provides secondary treatment for a population of 2,300, with a designed capacity of 2,300 m³/day.
MARIA is a wastewater treatment plant located in María, a municipality in the Los Vélez region of Almería, Andalucía, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,300 people, reflecting its role as a small-scale facility in a rural inland area of southeastern Spain. The plant operates at the secondary treatment level, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000 discharging into freshwater or estuaries. The designed capacity of 2,300 m³/day aligns with the population served, indicating a balanced infrastructure for local needs. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Almanzora River basin. This inland location reduces direct coastal impact, but the plant still plays a critical role in protecting downstream water quality and supporting the ecological health of the region's semi-arid river systems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Almanzora River basin, a watercourse that flows through the arid landscapes of Almería before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important corridor for migratory birds. The secondary treatment provided helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, safeguarding the ecological balance of the river and its downstream coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
The MARIA wastewater treatment plant is located in María, a municipality in the Los Vélez region of Almería, Andalucía, Spain.
The MARIA plant serves a population of approximately 2,300 people, making it a small-scale facility for the local community.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000 discharging into freshwater or estuaries are required to provide secondary treatment. The MARIA plant meets this requirement.
The designed capacity of the MARIA plant is 2,300 m³ per day, which matches the population served and indicates adequate infrastructure for the community's wastewater needs.
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