Picadas Wastewater Treatment Plant, San Martín de Valdeiglesias, Comunidad de Madrid

Picadas is a wastewater treatment plant located in San Martín de Valdeiglesias, within the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain. The facility serves a population of around 10,508 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under Spanish and European regulatory frameworks. Its location near the Alberche River places it within the Tagus River basin, a major hydrological system in central Spain. As a plant serving a medium-sized community in Spain, Picadas operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with national and European standards. The treated effluent from Picadas likely discharges into the Alberche River, a tributary of the Tagus River, which flows westward into Portugal and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The Alberche River supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation and irrigation. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this ecologically important river system.

Picadas discharges into the Alberche River, a tributary of the Tagus River, which flows through central Spain and Portugal before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The Alberche River supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish populations and riparian habitats. The Tagus basin is a critical water resource for agriculture, urban supply, and biodiversity, making effective wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality and ecological balance.