SERON Wastewater Treatment Plant, Serón, Andalucía, Spain

SERON is a wastewater treatment plant located in Serón, a municipality in the Almanzora Valley within the province of Almería, Andalucía, Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,800 residents and has a designed capacity of 2,800 m³/day, indicating it is sized to match the local population. It operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment stage that removes organic matter and suspended solids. For a small agglomeration like Serón (under 10,000 population equivalent), secondary treatment meets the directive's requirements unless the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas requiring more advanced treatment. The plant's discharge volume is reported as 507.49 m³/day, suggesting it operates below its full capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Almanzora River, which flows through the valley and eventually reaches the Mediterranean Sea near the coast of Almería. The Almanzora River basin supports agricultural irrigation and local ecosystems, making proper wastewater treatment essential for protecting water quality in this semi-arid region of southern Spain.

The plant discharges into the Almanzora River basin, which flows through the Valle del Almanzora in Almería province. The river is a key water resource for agriculture in this semi-arid region and eventually reaches the Mediterranean Sea. Downstream ecosystems include riparian habitats and coastal waters that support diverse marine life. Proper treatment helps prevent nutrient enrichment and protects the ecological balance of the river and its receiving waters.