Valdefuentes Wastewater Treatment Plant, Valdefuentes, Extremadura, Spain

Valdefuentes is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the town of Valdefuentes, in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 2,600 residents, placing it in the small agglomeration category under European Union regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for discharges into freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,549 m³/day and currently treats an average daily flow of 471.24 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tagus River basin, one of the most important river systems in the Iberian Peninsula. The Tagus River flows westward through Spain and Portugal, emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant's operations help protect downstream water quality and aquatic ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Tagus River basin, which supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and human consumption. The Tagus River flows through the Monfragüe Biosphere Reserve (a UNESCO-designated area) before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to maintain the ecological health of the river and its estuary.