Torrejoncillo Wastewater Treatment Plant, Extremadura, Spain

The Torrejoncillo wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Torrejoncillo, in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 5,200 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the regional water management infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. It has a designed capacity of 5,500 m³/day and currently discharges an average of 942.49 m³/day, indicating it operates well below its capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse, likely a tributary of the Tagus River basin, which flows westward through Spain and Portugal to the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and the downstream aquatic environment, supporting ecological health in the region's rivers and reservoirs.

The plant discharges into a local stream that feeds into the Tagus River basin, one of the Iberian Peninsula's major river systems. The Tagus flows through central Spain and Portugal, eventually reaching the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The downstream environment includes agricultural areas and ecologically sensitive riverine habitats that support diverse aquatic life, including fish and migratory birds. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient enrichment and maintain water quality in this transboundary basin.