Perales del Puerto Wastewater Treatment Plant, Extremadura, Spain

The Perales del Puerto wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Perales del Puerto, in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 2,400 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 3,900 cubic meters per day, and the average daily discharge volume is about 435 cubic meters, indicating ample capacity for current loads. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse, likely a tributary of the Tagus River basin, which flows westward through Spain and Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting local streams and groundwater from untreated sewage, supporting the ecological health of the region's freshwater systems.

The plant discharges into a small river system within the Tagus River basin, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The local watershed supports Mediterranean forest and scrubland habitats, with species such as the Iberian lynx and Spanish imperial eagle in the broader region. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive area.