San Vicente de la Barquera, Cantabria

Overview

San Vicente de la Barquera wastewater treatment plant serves the coastal town in Cantabria, Spain. It treats wastewater from a population of 8,665 and discharges into the Cantabrian Sea.

The San Vicente de la Barquera wastewater treatment plant is located in the coastal town of San Vicente de la Barquera, in the autonomous community of Cantabria, northern Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 8,665 residents, making it a medium-sized facility within the region's wastewater infrastructure. As a Spanish plant, it operates under the national transposition of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC. For agglomerations of this scale (between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent), the directive requires secondary treatment or equivalent. The treated effluent is discharged into the Cantabrian Sea, part of the Atlantic Ocean. The coastal location means the plant plays a key role in protecting the marine environment and local beaches, which are important for tourism and biodiversity. The surrounding area includes the Oyambre Natural Park, a protected coastal wetland that supports diverse bird species and sensitive habitats.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the Cantabrian Sea, a coastal area of the Atlantic Ocean. The receiving waters are part of the Bay of Biscay ecosystem, which supports diverse marine life including fish, cetaceans, and seabirds. The nearby Oyambre Natural Park is a coastal wetland that serves as an important migratory corridor for birds. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect these sensitive coastal habitats.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located in San Vicente de la Barquera, in the province of Cantabria, northern Spain. Its address is Faro de Punta Silla, Carretera a Santillán-Boria, Barrio Juncalada.

The plant serves a population of approximately 8,665 residents in the town and surrounding area.

The treated effluent is discharged into the Cantabrian Sea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. The coastal discharge is managed to protect marine water quality and local ecosystems.

As a Spanish facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size (8,665 people). Compliance is enforced by the regional water authority in Cantabria.

Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent are required to have secondary treatment or an equivalent process. This typically involves biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids.