Valdilecha Wastewater Treatment Plant, Valdilecha, Comunidad de Madrid

The Valdilecha wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Valdilecha, within the Comunidad de Madrid, Spain. It serves a small population of 1,552, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant is situated along the M-224 road, east of Madrid. As a secondary treatment facility, Valdilecha meets the standard requirements for small agglomerations under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The directive mandates secondary treatment for discharges into freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations of between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent, though smaller plants like Valdilecha are still expected to provide appropriate treatment to protect local water quality. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Tagus River basin. The Tagus River is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula, flowing westward into Portugal and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon. The plant's operations contribute to protecting downstream water quality in this important transboundary river system.

The Valdilecha plant discharges into the Tagus River basin, which flows through central Spain and Portugal before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The Tagus supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and urban use. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, protecting the ecological health of the river and its downstream estuary.