Tavernes Goleta Wastewater Treatment Plant - Tavernes de la Valldigna, Spain

Tavernes Goleta is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Tavernes de la Valldigna, in the Comunitat Valenciana region of Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,773 residents and has a designed capacity of 9,330 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 798.04 cubic meters per day. Its coastal location places it within 10 kilometers of the Mediterranean Sea, making it a key facility for protecting local marine waters. As an advanced treatment plant, Tavernes Goleta goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, ensuring high-quality effluent. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment, but the advanced level here indicates a higher standard, likely due to the sensitive coastal environment. The plant operates within Spain's national regulatory framework, which transposes EU directives and includes discharge permits issued by the regional water authority. The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, contributing to the protection of coastal water quality and marine ecosystems. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise lead to eutrophication in the coastal zone. This is particularly important given the ecological sensitivity of the Mediterranean, which supports diverse marine life and is a popular area for tourism and recreation.

The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Mediterranean Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. The coastal waters near Tavernes de la Valldigna support seagrass meadows and diverse marine habitats. Advanced treatment at this plant helps minimize the risk of eutrophication and protects the ecological balance of the local marine environment.