SANTILLANA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Manzanares el Real, Spain

SANTILLANA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Manzanares el Real, within the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain. The facility serves a population equivalent of 21,104, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are integral to the local water management infrastructure. As a plant in Spain, SANTILLANA is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also requires more advanced treatment if the discharge enters sensitive areas. The plant's specific treatment processes and capacity details are not publicly available, but the regulatory framework ensures compliance with European standards for wastewater treatment. The treated effluent from SANTILLANA is likely discharged into a local watercourse that eventually drains into the Tagus River basin, which flows through central Spain and into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant plays a role in protecting the local watershed and downstream ecosystems, including the Manzanares River and the surrounding natural areas that support diverse aquatic life.

The plant discharges into the local watershed, which is part of the Tagus River basin. The Tagus River flows westward through Spain and Portugal, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The area around Manzanares el Real includes the Sierra de Guadarrama foothills, which are ecologically sensitive and support diverse flora and fauna. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect the aquatic habitats in this region.