ROLDAN LO FERRO BALSICAS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Torre Pacheco, Spain

ROLDAN LO FERRO BALSICAS is a wastewater treatment plant located in Torre Pacheco, within the Campo de Cartagena y Mar Menor area of the Region de Murcia, Spain. The facility serves a population of approximately 12,475 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under Spanish and European regulations. As a plant in Spain, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. Spanish wastewater infrastructure is regulated by the national water authority and regional environmental agencies. The plant's discharge ultimately reaches the Mar Menor, a hypersaline coastal lagoon of significant ecological importance. The Mar Menor supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical habitat for migratory birds. The surrounding Campo de Cartagena region is an agricultural area, and the plant plays a key role in protecting the lagoon from nutrient pollution.

The plant is located in the Campo de Cartagena region, which drains into the Mar Menor coastal lagoon. The Mar Menor is a hypersaline lagoon connected to the Mediterranean Sea, supporting seagrass meadows and diverse marine species. The lagoon is ecologically sensitive to nutrient inputs from agricultural and urban runoff, making wastewater treatment crucial for maintaining water quality and preventing eutrophication.