NERPIO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Nerpio, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

NERPIO is a wastewater treatment plant located in the municipality of Nerpio, within the province of Albacete in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,100 residents, providing advanced treatment to ensure high-quality effluent before discharge. As an advanced treatment facility, NERPIO goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting stringent standards under Spanish and EU regulations. The plant operates under the framework of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires advanced treatment for discharges into sensitive areas. With a daily discharge volume of 378 m³, the plant is sized appropriately for its small agglomeration. The treated effluent from NERPIO is released into the local watercourse, which eventually drains into the Segura River basin. This river system flows southeast into the Mediterranean Sea, supporting diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities in the region. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and ecological health.

NERPIO discharges into the Segura River basin, which flows through southeastern Spain into the Mediterranean Sea. The Segura River supports irrigated agriculture and provides habitat for native fish species such as the Iberian barbel. The advanced treatment at NERPIO reduces nutrient loading, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream reservoirs and coastal waters.