ROJALES Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rojales, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain

The ROJALES wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility located in Rojales, within the comarca of Baix Segura / Vega Baja in the province of Alicante, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain. It serves a population equivalent of 17,759, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated inland, approximately 50 km from the Mediterranean coast, and its operations are part of the regional water management infrastructure. Under the EU UWWTD, agglomerations with a population equivalent between 10,000 and 150,000 are required to provide secondary treatment as a minimum. The regulatory framework ensures that the plant meets the directive's standards for biological treatment and nutrient removal where applicable. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar units), indicating a scale appropriate for the served population. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the Segura River basin, which flows through the Vega Baja region and ultimately reaches the Mediterranean Sea near Guardamar del Segura. The Segura River is a vital water resource for agriculture and ecosystems in southeastern Spain, and the plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in this semi-arid region. Downstream, the river supports irrigated agriculture and coastal wetlands, including the Lagunas de La Mata-Torrevieja Natural Park, an ecologically sensitive area for birdlife.

The ROJALES plant discharges into the Segura River basin, which flows through the Vega Baja region and empties into the Mediterranean Sea at Guardamar del Segura. The Segura River is a critical water source for agriculture and ecosystems in a semi-arid climate, and its lower course supports coastal wetlands and lagoons that are important for migratory birds and aquatic biodiversity. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this sensitive downstream environment.