San Vicente de Alcántara Wastewater Treatment Plant, Valencia de Alcántara, Extremadura

The San Vicente de Alcántara wastewater treatment plant is located in Valencia de Alcántara, in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 14,500 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU standards. As a Spanish facility, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas, such as those prone to eutrophication. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tagus River basin. The Tagus River flows westward through Spain and Portugal, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality and supporting aquatic ecosystems in the region.

The plant discharges into the Tagus River basin, one of the Iberian Peninsula's major river systems. The Tagus flows through diverse landscapes, supporting riparian habitats and agricultural areas before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. Downstream ecosystems include freshwater and estuarine environments that rely on good water quality for biodiversity and human use.