SAN ANTONIO Y ALDEAS VEGA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Requena, Spain

SAN ANTONIO Y ALDEAS VEGA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Requena, within the Comunitat Valenciana region of Spain. The facility serves a population of 7,142 and is classified as an advanced treatment plant, reflecting a high level of pollutant removal. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant's designed capacity is 4,629 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of 501.30 m³/day, indicating it operates well below its maximum capacity. As an advanced treatment facility, it likely employs tertiary processes such as nutrient removal or disinfection, meeting the stringent requirements for sensitive areas under the EU directive. For a medium agglomeration of this size, the EU mandates secondary treatment, but the advanced level suggests additional environmental protections are in place. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Júcar River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality, supporting aquatic ecosystems, and ensuring compliance with regional water management goals. Its inland location reduces direct marine impact, but its advanced treatment helps safeguard the broader riverine environment.

The plant discharges into the Júcar River basin, which flows eastward through the Comunitat Valenciana and empties into the Mediterranean Sea near Cullera. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for irrigation and drinking water supplies. The advanced treatment level helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the coastal marine environment, protecting sensitive habitats and water quality downstream.