Padrón Wastewater Treatment Plant, Galicia, Spain

The Padrón wastewater treatment plant is located in Iria Flavia, Padrón, within the province of A Coruña in Galicia, Spain. It serves a population of 10,828, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the Sar River, a tributary of the Ulla River, which flows into the Ría de Arousa, an Atlantic estuary. As a Spanish facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. Spanish regulations transpose the directive through Royal Decree 509/1996, ensuring compliance with effluent standards. The plant discharges into the Sar River, which joins the Ulla River and ultimately reaches the Ría de Arousa, a productive coastal ecosystem supporting shellfish fisheries and migratory birds. The plant's operation is critical for protecting water quality in this ecologically sensitive estuary, which is part of the Natura 2000 network (though not explicitly named here).

The Padrón plant discharges into the Sar River, a tributary of the Ulla River, which flows into the Ría de Arousa on the Atlantic coast of Galicia. This estuary supports diverse marine life, including shellfish beds and migratory bird populations. The plant's treatment performance directly affects water quality in this ecologically productive area, which is important for local fisheries and tourism.