Overview
RIOLOBOS wastewater treatment plant serves the town of Riolobos in Extremadura, Spain, providing secondary treatment for a population of 2,900.
The RIOLOBOS wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Riolobos, in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 2,900 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for discharges into freshwater bodies from settlements of this size. As a secondary treatment facility, RIOLOBOS employs biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, ensuring compliance with EU effluent standards. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,534 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average volume of 525.62 cubic meters per day, indicating operational headroom for future growth. Secondary treatment typically involves activated sludge or similar biological systems. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tagus River basin. The Tagus River is one of the longest rivers in the Iberian Peninsula, flowing westward through Spain and Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality, supporting aquatic ecosystems and agricultural water use in the region.
Environmental context
The RIOLOBOS plant discharges into the Tagus River basin, which flows through central Spain and Portugal before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water source for irrigation and urban supply. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, mitigating eutrophication risks in downstream reservoirs and estuaries.
Frequently asked questions
The RIOLOBOS plant is located in the town of Riolobos, in the province of Caceres, Extremadura, Spain.
The plant serves approximately 2,900 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU wastewater regulations.
RIOLOBOS provides secondary treatment, which uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids before discharge.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), small agglomerations like Riolobos (under 10,000 population equivalent) are required to provide secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater, which RIOLOBOS meets.
The treated effluent discharges into the Tagus River basin, which flows through Spain and Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean, supporting aquatic ecosystems and regional water resources.
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