Overview
PORTBOU is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in Portbou, Catalunya, Spain, serving 1,145 people. It discharges 227.88 m³/day of treated wastewater near the Mediterranean coast.
PORTBOU is a wastewater treatment plant located in the coastal town of Portbou, in the Alt Empordà region of Girona, Catalunya, Spain. The facility serves a population of 1,145 and is situated near the Mediterranean Sea, reflecting its role in managing municipal wastewater for this small coastal community. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 15,200 m³/day, the plant is equipped to handle seasonal population fluctuations typical of tourist destinations. The current discharge volume of 227.88 m³/day indicates significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, contributing to the protection of coastal water quality and marine ecosystems. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and other pollutants, supporting the ecological health of the nearby coastal waters and the broader Gulf of Lion region.
Environmental context
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Mediterranean Sea near Portbou, a coastal town on the Costa Brava. The local watershed drains into the Gulf of Lion, a semi-enclosed sea area that supports diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient inputs, protecting coastal water quality and the sensitive marine environment from eutrophication.
Frequently asked questions
PORTBOU is located in Portbou, a coastal town in the Alt Empordà region of Girona, Catalunya, Spain. Its address is Port de Portbou, N-260a, Portbou, Girona, Catalunya.
The plant serves a population of 1,145 people, though its designed capacity of 15,200 m³/day suggests it can accommodate seasonal tourist influxes common in coastal Mediterranean towns.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Mediterranean Sea near Portbou. The advanced treatment process ensures high-quality effluent to protect coastal water quality.
As a Spanish plant, PORTBOU operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent. The plant's advanced treatment exceeds this standard.
Small coastal plants in Spain often employ advanced treatment to meet stringent EU standards for sensitive areas, including nutrient removal to protect the Mediterranean Sea from eutrophication.
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