Overview
SUR ORIENTAL is a wastewater treatment plant serving Rivas-Vaciamadrid in the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain. It handles a population equivalent of 108,879 and operates under EU regulations.
SUR ORIENTAL is a wastewater treatment plant located in Rivas-Vaciamadrid, within the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain. The plant serves a population equivalent of 108,879, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU standards. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and plays a key role in managing municipal wastewater for this growing suburban area southeast of Madrid. As a large agglomeration, the plant is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum, and tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with European standards for nutrient removal and effluent quality. The treated effluent from SUR ORIENTAL is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Tagus River basin, one of the most important river systems in the Iberian Peninsula. The Tagus flows westward through Spain and Portugal, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant's operations help protect downstream ecosystems, including the Tagus River and its associated wetlands, which support diverse aquatic life and migratory bird populations.
Environmental context
SUR ORIENTAL discharges into the Tagus River basin, which flows through central Spain and Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is a critical water resource for agriculture and urban areas. The plant's effluent management helps maintain water quality in this sensitive basin, reducing nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in downstream reservoirs and the estuary.
Frequently asked questions
SUR ORIENTAL is located in Rivas-Vaciamadrid, in the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain. The address is Camino de los Palos, Casco antiguo, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, 28524.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 108,879, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU wastewater treatment directives.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Tagus River basin, ultimately reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
As a Spanish plant serving over 100,000 people, SUR ORIENTAL operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment and potentially tertiary treatment for sensitive areas.
Plants of this scale in Spain typically provide secondary biological treatment, and often include nutrient removal to meet EU standards for sensitive catchments like the Tagus basin.
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