NAVAS DEL MADRONO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Navas del Madroño, Extremadura, Spain

The NAVAS DEL MADRONO wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Navas del Madroño, in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 2,800 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility. The plant 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 standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 2,796 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 507.49 m³/day, indicating operational headroom. As a Spanish facility, it operates under national regulations that transpose EU directives, with permits issued by the regional water authority (Confederación Hidrográfica del Tajo). The treated effluent is discharged into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Tagus River basin. The Tagus River flows westward through Spain and Portugal, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant plays a role in protecting local water quality and the downstream aquatic ecosystems, including the Tagus estuary, a vital habitat for migratory birds and diverse fish species.

The plant discharges into the Tagus River basin, which flows through central Spain and Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus estuary is an ecologically sensitive area supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory bird populations. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, contributing to the health of the river system and downstream coastal waters.