SAYALONGA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sayalonga, Andalucía, Spain

SAYALONGA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Sayalonga, a municipality in the La Axarquía region of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. The plant serves a population of 1,245 and is situated in a coastal area within 10 km of the Mediterranean Sea. As a small agglomeration, it falls under the scope of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges into coastal waters. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level for organic matter removal. Its designed capacity is 1,500 m³/day, and the reported discharge volume is 225.65 m³/day, indicating low utilization. However, the plant is currently closed, so no active treatment is occurring. Under EU regulations, secondary treatment is typically sufficient for small coastal communities, though sensitive areas may require more advanced treatment. The treated effluent from this plant would have discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, likely via a local stream or direct outfall. The coastal waters of the Axarquía region support diverse marine life and are important for tourism and fishing. Reducing local discharge impacts.

The plant is located in the coastal region of La Axarquía, within the Mediterranean Sea watershed. The receiving water body is the Mediterranean Sea, which supports ecologically sensitive marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and rocky reefs. The area is also important for migratory fish and seabirds. The plant's closure may reduce nutrient and pollutant loads to these coastal waters, benefiting local marine biodiversity.