PERIANA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Periana, Andalucía, Spain

The PERIANA wastewater treatment plant is located in Periana, a town in the province of Málaga, Andalucía, southern Spain. It serves a population of approximately 2,071 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Spanish and EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and operates within the Mediterranean climate zone, where water resources are often scarce and treatment quality is important for reuse or safe discharge. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 3,000 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 375.36 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. As a Spanish facility, it operates under the national regulatory framework that transposes the EU directive, with permits issued by the regional water authority (Confederación Hidrográfica). The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Guadalhorce River basin or nearby coastal streams. The receiving environment supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a region known for its agricultural and ecological value. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and supports the ecological health of the Mediterranean coastal zone.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Guadalhorce River basin, which drains into the Mediterranean Sea near Málaga. The downstream environment includes ecologically sensitive coastal areas that support diverse marine life and are important for regional biodiversity. Effective secondary treatment reduces organic load and nutrients, helping to prevent eutrophication and protect the receiving waters.