TEULADA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Teulada, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain

The TEULADA wastewater treatment plant serves the municipality of Teulada in the Comunitat Valenciana, Spain. Located in the Marina Alta region of Alicante province, this facility handles wastewater from a population of approximately 6,924 residents. The plant is situated near the Mediterranean coast, reflecting the area's coastal tourism and residential character. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, exceeding the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 7,170 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 694.74 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal demand. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal, which is important for protecting sensitive coastal waters. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local environment, ultimately reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The receiving waters are part of the Marina Alta coastal area, which supports diverse marine life and is important for regional tourism and fisheries. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive coastal zone.

The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea via local watercourses in the Marina Alta region. This coastal area supports seagrass meadows and diverse marine habitats, making nutrient control critical. The advanced treatment reduces nitrogen and phosphorus loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in the oligotrophic Mediterranean waters. Downstream, the effluent mixes with coastal currents that influence nearby beaches and marine protected areas.