Melide Wastewater Treatment Plant: Serving Melide, Galicia, Spain

The Melide wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Melide, in the province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. It serves a population of about 9,156 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU criteria. The plant is situated near the Camino de Santiago, a historic pilgrimage route, and is part of the region's water infrastructure. As a plant in Spain, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant is expected to meet the directive's standards for biological treatment and nutrient removal where applicable. The treated effluent is likely discharged into a local watercourse that drains into the Ulla River basin, eventually reaching the Atlantic Ocean via the Ría de Arousa. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local environment and the sensitive coastal ecosystems of Galicia's rias.

The plant's discharge likely enters a tributary of the Ulla River, which flows into the Ría de Arousa, a coastal inlet on the Atlantic Ocean. This area supports diverse marine life, including shellfish beds and migratory bird populations. Proper treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect the ecological health of the rias, which are important for fisheries and tourism.