Vallada Wastewater Treatment Plant - Secondary Treatment in Comunitat Valenciana, Spain

The Vallada wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Vallada, within the Comunitat Valenciana region of eastern Spain. The facility serves a population of approximately 4,508 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Spanish and EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and treats wastewater from the local urban community. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater or estuaries. The designed capacity is 7,034 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 899.22 m³/day, indicating operational capacity well within design limits. As a secondary treatment facility, it removes organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the directive's requirements for biological oxygen demand and total suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse, likely a tributary of the Júcar River basin, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water resources and downstream ecosystems, including the Albufera de València wetland, a sensitive ecological area. By ensuring proper treatment, the facility helps maintain water quality in the Júcar River basin and supports the environmental health of the Mediterranean coastal zone.

The plant discharges into a local stream within the Júcar River basin, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Valencia. The downstream environment includes the Albufera de València, a coastal lagoon and wetland of high ecological importance that supports diverse aquatic life and migratory birds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, protecting this sensitive ecosystem from eutrophication and habitat degradation.