Overview
QUINTANAR DE LA ORDEN wastewater treatment plant serves the town of Quintanar de la Orden in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scal
The QUINTANAR DE LA ORDEN wastewater treatment plant is located in Quintanar de la Orden, a municipality in the province of Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 24,484 people, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU regulations. As a Spanish wastewater facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 10,000 and 150,000. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures a minimum level of treatment. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Tagus River basin, one of the major river systems in the Iberian Peninsula. The Tagus River flows westward through Spain and Portugal before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of this important river and its downstream ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Tagus River basin, which flows through central Spain and Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water resource for agriculture and urban areas. Downstream, the river passes through the Tagus Estuary Natural Reserve in Portugal, a critical habitat for migratory birds and fish species. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive watershed.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Camino de Vallehermoso, Quintanar de la Orden, Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha, 45800, Spain.
The plant serves approximately 24,484 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which flows into the Tagus River basin and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean.
As a Spanish facility, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and potentially tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent must provide secondary treatment. In Spain, many such plants also incorporate nutrient removal to protect sensitive water bodies like the Tagus River.
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