Palma del Río Wastewater Treatment Plant, Andalucía, Spain

The Palma del Río wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Palma del Río, in the province of Córdoba, Andalucía, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 28,528 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, more than 50 km from the coast, and its treated effluent is discharged into the local water system. As a facility in Spain, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's operational details, including specific treatment processes and capacity, are managed by the relevant regional authority in Andalucía. The plant's receiving water body is part of the Guadalquivir River basin, one of Spain's major river systems. The Guadalquivir flows southwest through Andalucía and discharges into the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of Cádiz. The river supports diverse aquatic life and is important for irrigation and local ecosystems. The treatment plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this basin by reducing pollutant loads before discharge.

The Palma del Río plant discharges into the Guadalquivir River basin, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Gulf of Cádiz. The Guadalquivir is a major river in southern Spain, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and migratory bird species. The plant's operations help maintain water quality in this ecologically important watershed, which is subject to EU water quality standards and regional conservation efforts.