MARIANA SOTORRIBAS ZARZUELA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mariana, Castilla-La Mancha

MARIANA SOTORRIBAS ZARZUELA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Mariana, a municipality in the province of Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,753 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Spanish and EU regulations. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the regional water management infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent from the plant ultimately flows into the Júcar River basin, which drains into the Mediterranean Sea. The Júcar basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is an important water resource for agriculture and urban supply in the region. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality and ecological health.

The plant discharges into the Júcar River basin, which flows through Castilla-La Mancha and the Valencian Community before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The Júcar River supports a variety of aquatic life and is used for irrigation and drinking water supply. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to maintain water quality in the river and its downstream ecosystems, which include wetlands and coastal areas.