Overview
San Sebastián de la Gomera wastewater treatment plant serves 7,600 residents on La Gomera, Canary Islands. The facility discharges into the Atlantic Ocean under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The San Sebastián de la Gomera wastewater treatment plant is located on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands, serving the capital city of the same name. With a population equivalent of 7,600, it is classified as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated near the coast, reflecting the island's geography. As a Spanish facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges into coastal waters from agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 1.00 cubic hectometer per year, indicating the plant's scale. The regulatory framework ensures appropriate standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean, which surrounds La Gomera. The coastal waters support diverse marine life, including cetaceans and sea turtles, and are part of the Macaronesian biogeographic region. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to protect these sensitive marine ecosystems and maintain water quality for tourism and local communities.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Atlantic Ocean near San Sebastián de la Gomera, on the eastern coast of La Gomera. The receiving waters are part of the Macaronesian marine region, characterized by high biodiversity and endemic species. The coastal environment supports important habitats for seabirds, fish, and marine mammals, making effective wastewater treatment critical to prevent nutrient enrichment and contamination.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands, Spain, serving the capital city of San Sebastián de la Gomera. Its address is GM-2, Las Galanas, San Sebastián de la Gomera, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canarias.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 7,600 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU wastewater treatment regulations.
The treated wastewater is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean, which surrounds La Gomera. The plant is located within 50 km of the coast, and the discharge point is in coastal waters.
As a Spanish facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment for discharges into coastal waters from agglomerations of this size.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000 discharging into coastal waters are generally required to have secondary treatment. This is the standard expected for the San Sebastián de la Gomera plant.
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