Overview
QUIJANO wastewater treatment plant serves Piélagos, Cantabria, Spain, with a designed capacity of 1.00 m³/s. It treats wastewater from approximately 20,015 people under EU regulations.
The QUIJANO wastewater treatment plant is located in the Barrio Posadoiros area of Barcenilla, Oruña, within the municipality of Piélagos in Cantabria, Spain. The facility serves a population equivalent of approximately 20,015, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU classification. As a Spanish plant, QUIJANO operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations of this scale. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 m³/s, and it is situated within 50 km of the coast, indicating potential discharge to coastal waters. The treated effluent from QUIJANO likely discharges into the Pas River basin or directly to the Bay of Biscay, supporting the ecological health of the Cantabrian Sea. The region's coastal and riverine environments host diverse marine life and migratory fish species, making proper treatment essential for water quality.
Environmental context
The QUIJANO plant is located in the Pas River basin, which flows into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). The downstream environment includes the Pas estuary and coastal waters of Cantabria, which support diverse aquatic life including fish, crustaceans, and seabirds. Proper wastewater treatment is critical to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect the ecological balance of this sensitive coastal area.
Frequently asked questions
The QUIJANO plant is located in Barrio Posadoiros, Barcenilla, Oruña, in the municipality of Piélagos, Cantabria, Spain.
The plant serves a population equivalent of approximately 20,015 people.
The treated effluent is likely discharged into the Pas River basin, which flows into the Bay of Biscay, supporting the coastal marine environment.
As a Spanish plant, QUIJANO operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging to freshwater or coastal waters.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving 10,000-150,000 population equivalent typically require secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment if discharging to sensitive areas.
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