ROCIO EL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Almonte, Andalucía, Spain

ROCIO EL is a wastewater treatment plant located in Almonte, within the province of Huelva in Andalucía, Spain. The facility serves a population of 3,563 and operates with advanced treatment processes, ensuring high-quality effluent. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,025 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 645.78 cubic meters of treated wastewater daily. As a Spanish facility, ROCIO EL operates under the national transposition of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent), the directive requires appropriate treatment, and Spain has implemented advanced treatment in this case, which exceeds the minimum secondary treatment standard. The plant's performance is likely monitored by the regional water authority in Andalucía. The treated effluent from ROCIO EL is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Guadalquivir River basin. The surrounding area is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and the Doñana National Park ecosystem, a vital wetland area in the region.

The plant discharges into the Guadalquivir River basin, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near the Gulf of Cádiz. This watershed supports the Doñana wetlands, a critical habitat for migratory birds and endangered species. Advanced treatment at ROCIO EL reduces nutrient loads and pollutants, helping to preserve the ecological balance of this important coastal and estuarine environment.