Overview
MERUELO wastewater treatment plant in Arnuero, Cantabria, Spain, serves a population of 1,361 with advanced treatment. The plant is closed but its designed capacity of 50,000 m³/day reflects its original scale.
The MERUELO wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Arnuero, in the Cantabria region of northern Spain. It was designed to serve a population equivalent of 1,361 people, with a substantial designed capacity of 50,000 cubic meters per day, indicating it was built to accommodate future growth or seasonal demand. The plant is currently listed as closed. Although the plant is no longer operational, its advanced treatment level aligns with Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size, secondary treatment is typically required, but advanced treatment may have been mandated due to discharge into a sensitive area. The plant's coastal location (within 10 km of the coast) suggests it was designed to protect marine waters from nutrient pollution. The plant's discharge likely entered the Bay of Biscay via local streams or directly, given its proximity to the coast. The Cantabrian Sea is an ecologically productive area supporting diverse marine life, including fisheries and migratory species. The advanced treatment would have helped reduce eutrophication risks in this coastal environment.
Environmental context
The plant is situated in the Cantabrian region, within 10 km of the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). The local watershed drains through small coastal streams into the Cantabrian Sea, a marine area known for its rich biodiversity and important fisheries. Advanced treatment at this plant would have helped protect the coastal ecosystem from nutrient enrichment and contaminants, supporting the health of marine habitats and species.
Frequently asked questions
The MERUELO plant is located in the municipality of Arnuero, in the Cantabria region of northern Spain, near the coast of the Bay of Biscay.
The plant was designed to serve a population equivalent of 1,361 people, with a designed capacity of 50,000 cubic meters per day.
Given its coastal location within 10 km of the Bay of Biscay, the plant likely discharged treated effluent into local streams or directly into the Cantabrian Sea.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, often required for discharges into sensitive coastal areas.
As a Spanish plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent, and advanced treatment in sensitive areas.
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