SANT JOAN DE MORO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sant Joan de Moró, Spain

SANT JOAN DE MORO is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Sant Joan de Moró, a town in the province of Castellón within the Comunitat Valenciana, Spain. The plant serves a population of 3,364, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Spanish and EU regulations. It is situated inland, approximately 10-50 km from the Mediterranean coast. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 7,947 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of 518.81 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. As a Spanish facility, it operates under the national transposition of the EU directive, overseen by the relevant regional water authority. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that ultimately drains to the Mediterranean Sea. The receiving environment supports diverse aquatic life and contributes to the ecological health of the coastal zone. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and marine ecosystems.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Mediterranean Sea via the coastal plain of Castellón. The region's semi-arid climate means water resources are limited, making treatment and reuse important for sustaining aquatic habitats. The downstream environment supports a variety of fish and bird species, and the coastal waters are used for recreation and tourism. Effective secondary treatment reduces organic load and nutrients, helping to prevent eutrophication in the marine environment.