Overview
PALAMOS wastewater treatment plant serves Mont-ras in Catalunya, Spain, with a population equivalent of 61,551. The facility is located within 50 km of the coast and discharges into the Mediterranean basin.
PALAMOS is a wastewater treatment plant located in Mont-ras, within the Baix Empordà region of Girona, Catalunya, Spain. Serving a population equivalent of 61,551, the plant is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure, handling flows from both residential and commercial sources in this coastal area. As a facility in Spain, PALAMOS operates under the European Union's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's treated effluent ultimately reaches the Mediterranean Sea via local watercourses, contributing to the health of coastal ecosystems. The Baix Empordà region is known for its tourism and agriculture, making effective wastewater treatment critical for protecting bathing waters and marine biodiversity along the Costa Brava.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. The receiving waters support diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish populations, and are important for regional tourism. Effective treatment helps prevent eutrophication and protects coastal water quality.
Frequently asked questions
The PALAMOS plant is located in Mont-ras, in the Baix Empordà region of Girona, Catalunya, Spain. Its address is Camí Ral, Mont-ras.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 61,551, covering residential and commercial wastewater from the Mont-ras area and surrounding communities.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that flow to the Mediterranean Sea. As a coastal facility, it must meet stringent discharge standards to protect marine water quality.
Under the EU UWWTD (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations over 15,000 population equivalent must provide secondary treatment. PALAMOS, serving 61,551 PE, is classified as a medium agglomeration and is required to meet secondary treatment standards, with possible tertiary treatment if discharging to sensitive areas.
In Spain, plants of this scale typically employ secondary biological treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Many also include nutrient removal to comply with EU directives for sensitive coastal areas.
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