Overview
ORPESA wastewater treatment plant serves Oropesa del Mar, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain, with a population equivalent of 103,539. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
ORPESA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Oropesa del Mar (Orpesa), in the province of Castellón, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain. The plant serves a population equivalent of 103,539, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. Its coastal location within 50 km of the Mediterranean Sea influences its operational and environmental context. As a large agglomeration in a sensitive coastal area, the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment, with potential nutrient removal requirements under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The designed capacity is reported as 1. The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea, likely via a marine outfall, affecting local coastal water quality. The surrounding area includes tourist beaches and marine habitats, making effective treatment critical for protecting bathing waters and marine ecosystems. The plant's performance is subject to Spanish national regulations implementing EU directives.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea near Oropesa del Mar, a coastal town in the Gulf of Valencia. The receiving waters support diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish populations, and are important for local tourism and fisheries. Downstream, the coastal currents connect to the broader Balearic Sea, making nutrient and pathogen control essential for maintaining water quality and ecosystem health.
Frequently asked questions
The ORPESA plant is located in Oropesa del Mar (Orpesa), in the province of Castellón, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain, near the Marina d'Or area.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 103,539, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Mediterranean Sea, likely via a marine outfall, given its coastal location within 50 km of the coast.
As a Spanish plant in a coastal area, ORPESA operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for large agglomerations and may mandate nutrient removal in sensitive areas.
For agglomerations over 100,000 population equivalent, Spanish plants typically provide secondary biological treatment, and in coastal sensitive areas, additional nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) is often required to protect marine ecosystems.
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