PUIG REIG Wastewater Treatment Plant, Puig-reig, Catalunya, Spain

PUIG REIG is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Puig-reig, a town in the Berguedà comarca of Catalunya, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,546 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this inland community. It operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for treatment based on population equivalents and receiving water sensitivity. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 8,538 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 614.33 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variations. The treatment process aligns with EU requirements for agglomerations of this size, which typically mandate secondary treatment as a minimum. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually flow into the Llobregat River basin, a major river in Catalunya that drains into the Mediterranean Sea. The Llobregat River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water resource for the region. By treating wastewater to secondary standards, the plant helps protect downstream water quality and ecological health.

The plant discharges into the Llobregat River basin, which flows through Catalunya and empties into the Mediterranean Sea near Barcelona. The Llobregat River supports a variety of fish and invertebrate species and is a key water source for agriculture and urban use. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollution and suspended solids, helping to maintain the ecological balance of the river and its downstream coastal environment.