Overview
Tarancón wastewater treatment plant serves 52,800 people in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The Tarancón wastewater treatment plant is a municipal facility located in Las Huertas, Tarancón, in the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 52,800 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU regulations. As a Spanish plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations over 10,000 population equivalent. For this scale, the directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive to eutrophication. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Tagus River basin. The Tagus River is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula and flows westward to the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water resource for agriculture and urban supply.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Tagus River basin, which flows through central Spain and Portugal before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus is a major river supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for irrigation and drinking. The region's semi-arid climate makes water quality management critical for ecological health and human use.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Las Huertas, Tarancón, in the province of Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.
The plant serves approximately 52,800 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated effluent is discharged into the local hydrological network, which drains into the Tagus River basin and ultimately flows to the Atlantic Ocean.
As a Spanish plant serving over 10,000 people, it must comply with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment and potentially more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU directive, agglomerations of this size typically require secondary treatment (biological treatment) and may need tertiary treatment if discharging into sensitive areas like the Tagus basin.
Nearby plants