Overview
SANTESTEBAN wastewater treatment plant serves Doneztebe / Santesteban in Navarra, Spain, with a population equivalent of 4,700. The facility operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
SANTESTEBAN is a wastewater treatment plant located in Doneztebe / Santesteban, within the Navarra region of northern Spain. The facility serves a population equivalent of 4,700, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category under EU classification. Its location near the Bidasoa River basin positions it within a region known for its Atlantic climate and hilly terrain. As a Spanish plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, SANTESTEBAN is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment based on the sensitivity of the receiving waters. For smaller agglomerations, secondary treatment is typically mandated unless the discharge is into less sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is reported as 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day), indicating a modest scale consistent with the population served. The treated effluent from SANTESTEBAN ultimately discharges into the Bidasoa River catchment, which flows northward to the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). This river system supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor in the Basque-Cantabrian region. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in both the river and the coastal marine environment.
Environmental context
The SANTESTEBAN plant discharges into the Bidasoa River basin, which flows through Navarra and the Basque Country before reaching the Bay of Biscay. This river supports Atlantic salmon and other migratory fish species, making water quality management critical for biodiversity. The downstream estuary and coastal waters are ecologically sensitive areas that benefit from controlled nutrient and pollutant loads.
Frequently asked questions
SANTESTEBAN is located in Doneztebe / Santesteban, in the Navarra region of northern Spain, near the Bidasoa River basin.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 4,700, classifying it as a small-to-medium agglomeration under EU standards.
The treated effluent is discharged into the Bidasoa River catchment, which flows to the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean.
As a Spanish plant, SANTESTEBAN operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size unless the receiving waters are designated as less sensitive.
For small agglomerations in Spain, secondary treatment is standard under the EU UWWTD. Some plants may also incorporate nutrient removal if discharging into sensitive areas like the Bay of Biscay.
Nearby plants