MINO Wastewater Treatment Plant, A Carreira, Galicia, Spain

MINO is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in A Carreira, a parish in the municipality of Miño, within the province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. The facility serves a population of approximately 6,541 residents, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under Spanish and EU regulations. Its location near the Atlantic coast influences its operational and environmental considerations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, ensuring high-quality effluent. With a designed capacity of 9,000 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 549.11 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. As a Spanish facility, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates appropriate treatment levels based on receiving water sensitivity and population size. The treated effluent is discharged into the local coastal environment, likely via a river or direct outfall to the Atlantic Ocean. The area is part of the Galician rias, ecologically sensitive estuarine systems that support diverse marine life and are important for fisheries and tourism. The advanced treatment helps protect these coastal waters from eutrophication and other pollution impacts.

The plant discharges into the coastal waters of the Ría de Betanzos, part of the Atlantic Ocean. This ria is a productive estuarine ecosystem supporting shellfish beds, migratory birds, and marine biodiversity. The advanced treatment reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent algal blooms and maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive area. The region's oceanic climate and tidal dynamics influence dilution and dispersion of the effluent.