Overview
SAN NICOLAS is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in La Aldea de San Nicolás, Canary Islands, Spain. It serves 6,162 people with a designed capacity of 10,000 m³/day and discharges 819.59 m³/day.
SAN NICOLAS is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in La Aldea de San Nicolás, on the island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, Spain. The plant serves a population of 6,162 and has a designed capacity of 10,000 m³ per day, with an average discharge volume of 819.59 m³ per day. It is situated in a coastal area within 10 km of the Atlantic Ocean, reflecting the island's reliance on marine discharge for treated effluent. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. Under Spanish and EU regulations, advanced treatment is often required for sensitive areas or to protect coastal waters. The Canary Islands, being a popular tourist destination, have stringent environmental standards to preserve marine ecosystems and beaches. The plant's advanced treatment level ensures compliance with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates tertiary treatment for agglomerations over 10,000 PE in sensitive areas, though this plant serves a smaller population. The treated wastewater is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean, likely via a marine outfall. The coastal waters around Gran Canaria support diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish populations, and are important for tourism and recreation. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protect the local marine environment from eutrophication and other pollution impacts.
Environmental context
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Gran Canaria. The Canary Islands are a volcanic archipelago with steep coastal drop-offs, and the marine environment supports rich biodiversity, including cetaceans, sea turtles, and endemic fish species. The region's warm waters and strong currents help disperse effluent, but nutrient inputs from coastal plants must be carefully managed to prevent algal blooms and protect coral reefs and seagrass habitats. The plant's advanced treatment reduces the risk of eutrophication in the surrounding marine ecosystem.
Frequently asked questions
The SAN NICOLAS plant is located in La Aldea de San Nicolás, on the western coast of Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. Its address is Calle Cabarra, Los Caserones, Playa de San Nicolás.
The plant serves a population of 6,162 people, making it a small to medium agglomeration under EU classification.
The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Atlantic Ocean, likely via a marine outfall. Being within 10 km of the coast, the effluent is released into coastal waters where it is dispersed by ocean currents.
The plant provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal and disinfection. This level exceeds the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive's minimum requirement of secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size.
The plant operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For coastal areas like the Canary Islands, advanced treatment is often required to protect sensitive marine environments and comply with the Bathing Water Directive.
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