SES SALINES Wastewater Treatment Plant, ses Salines, Illes Balears, Spain

The SES SALINES wastewater treatment plant is located in ses Salines, a municipality in the Migjorn region of Illes Balears, Spain. It serves a small population of 1,262 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or semi-urban coastal community. The plant is situated near the coast, within 10 kilometers of the Mediterranean Sea. The facility provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 2,200 cubic meters per day, and it currently discharges approximately 197 cubic meters per day, indicating ample reserve capacity. The plant operates under Spain's national water regulations, which implement EU directives for wastewater treatment in sensitive coastal areas. The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, contributing to the protection of the Balearic Sea's coastal waters. This area supports diverse marine life and is important for tourism and local fisheries. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the sensitive marine ecosystem from eutrophication.

The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea, specifically into the Balearic Sea, which is a semi-enclosed basin with limited water exchange. The coastal waters near ses Salines support seagrass meadows and diverse marine species. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient and pollutant loads, helping to preserve water quality and prevent algal blooms in this ecologically sensitive marine environment.