Overview
OUTES is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in A Serra de Outes, Galicia, Spain, serving about 5,300 people. It discharges treated water into the local river system near the Atlantic coast.
OUTES is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in A Serra de Outes, a parish in the municipality of Outes, Galicia, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,300 residents, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under EU classification. Its location in the coastal region of Galicia places it within 10 km of the Atlantic Ocean, making it subject to stringent discharge requirements under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required for most inland plants. This level of treatment is typical for facilities discharging into sensitive or coastal areas, as it provides enhanced removal of nutrients and pathogens. The plant's designed capacity is 3,000 m³/day, and it currently treats an average daily volume of 345.74 m³, indicating ample capacity for future growth. The treated effluent from OUTES is discharged into the Río Tins, a small river that flows into the Ría de Muros e Noia, a coastal inlet of the Atlantic Ocean. This estuary supports diverse marine life and is an important area for fishing and aquaculture. The advanced treatment helps protect the ecological health of the ría and the broader Atlantic coastal environment.
Environmental context
The OUTES plant discharges into the Río Tins, which flows into the Ría de Muros e Noia, a coastal inlet on the Atlantic Ocean in Galicia. This estuary is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse marine habitats and serving as a nursery for fish and shellfish. The advanced treatment level ensures that nutrient and pollutant loads are minimized, protecting the water quality of the ría and the downstream Atlantic coastal zone.
Frequently asked questions
The OUTES plant is located in A Serra de Outes, a parish in the municipality of Outes, in the province of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. Its address is Paseo Fluvial do Río Tins, O Conchido, Vista Alegre, Outes.
The plant serves approximately 5,282 people, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under EU wastewater treatment directives.
The plant discharges its treated effluent into the Río Tins, which flows into the Ría de Muros e Noia, a coastal inlet of the Atlantic Ocean. The advanced treatment ensures high-quality discharge to protect the sensitive coastal environment.
The OUTES plant provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal and disinfection beyond secondary treatment. This level is required for discharges into sensitive areas like the Atlantic coast under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
As a Spanish plant within the EU, OUTES operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment as a minimum and advanced treatment for discharges into sensitive or coastal areas. National regulations in Spain enforce these standards.
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