PEGALAJAR Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pegalajar, Andalucía, Spain

PEGALAJAR is a wastewater treatment plant located in Pegalajar, a municipality in the province of Jaén, Andalucía, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,700 people, placing it in the small agglomeration category under EU regulations. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and treats wastewater from the local community. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,700 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 851.86 m³/day, the plant operates well within its capacity, indicating efficient management. The facility is part of Spain's municipal wastewater infrastructure, regulated under national and EU frameworks. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Guadalquivir River basin, which flows through Andalucía to the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, supporting downstream ecosystems and agricultural water use in the Jaén area, known for olive oil production.

The plant discharges into the Guadalquivir River basin, which flows through Andalucía and empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Sanlúcar de Barrameda. The Guadalquivir supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for birds. The advanced treatment ensures minimal nutrient and pollutant loading, protecting downstream ecological health and water quality for irrigation and drinking water intakes.