ORIHUELA SAN BARTOLOME Wastewater Treatment Plant, Orihuela, Spain

ORIHUELA SAN BARTOLOME is a wastewater treatment plant located in the San Bartolomé district of Orihuela, in the Comunitat Valenciana region of eastern Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,074 people, with a designed capacity of 4,083 m³/day and a discharge volume of 546.75 m³/day, indicating it operates well below its capacity. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent) are generally required to provide secondary treatment, but the advanced level here suggests the plant may be in a sensitive area or subject to additional local requirements. It is part of Spain's regulated wastewater infrastructure. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Segura River basin and then into the Mediterranean Sea. The Segura River is a key water resource in southeastern Spain, supporting agriculture and ecosystems in a semi-arid region. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and the marine environment of the Costa Blanca.

The plant discharges into the Segura River basin, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Guardamar del Segura. The Segura River is ecologically important for the region's biodiversity, supporting riparian habitats and migratory birds. The advanced treatment level helps reduce nutrient loading, which is critical in a semi-arid area where water resources are heavily used for irrigation and urban supply.