Overview
SOTO GUTIERREZ wastewater treatment plant serves Ciempozuelos in the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain, treating wastewater from approximately 147,727 people. It operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
SOTO GUTIERREZ is a wastewater treatment plant located in Ciempozuelos, within the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain. The facility serves a population of approximately 147,727, placing it in the large agglomeration category under EU regulations. Its location near the Río Seco and the broader Madrid region underscores its role in managing urban wastewater for a significant suburban area. As a plant serving over 100,000 people, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum and, for sensitive areas, tertiary treatment to remove nutrients. The regulatory framework ensures that facilities of this scale meet stringent standards to protect water quality. The plant discharges into the local watershed, likely the Río Seco, which flows into the Jarama River and eventually the Tagus River, the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula. The Tagus River supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and urban use downstream. The plant's operation is critical for maintaining the ecological health of this river system and preventing nutrient pollution in the Tagus estuary.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters the Río Seco, a tributary of the Jarama River, which flows into the Tagus River. The Tagus River basin is a vital water resource for central Spain and Portugal, supporting irrigated agriculture, wetlands, and migratory bird populations. Downstream, the Tagus estuary near Lisbon is an ecologically sensitive area that hosts diverse marine life. Effective wastewater treatment at SOTO GUTIERREZ helps reduce nutrient loads and protect these downstream ecosystems from eutrophication.
Frequently asked questions
SOTO GUTIERREZ is located in Ciempozuelos, in the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain. Its address is Camino de Río Seco, Ciempozuelos, 28330.
The plant serves approximately 147,727 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Río Seco, which flows into the Jarama River and then the Tagus River, eventually reaching the Tagus estuary.
As a Spanish plant serving over 100,000 people, SOTO GUTIERREZ operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment and, in sensitive areas, tertiary treatment for nutrient removal.
For large agglomerations like SOTO GUTIERREZ, Spanish regulations typically require secondary biological treatment. In sensitive areas, additional tertiary treatment for nitrogen and phosphorus removal is often implemented to protect water bodies.
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