VILA REAL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Vila-real, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain

The VILA REAL wastewater treatment plant is located in Vila-real, a municipality in the province of Castellón, within the Comunitat Valenciana region of eastern Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 35,123 residents, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under EU classification. Its location near the Mediterranean coast makes it part of a sensitive coastal area where advanced treatment is often required to protect marine waters. As a Spanish wastewater facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. For discharges into sensitive areas such as coastal zones, tertiary treatment may be required to reduce nutrients and prevent eutrophication. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal waters of the Comunitat Valenciana support diverse marine life and are important for tourism and fisheries. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to maintain water quality and protect the ecological balance of this coastal environment.

The VILA REAL plant discharges into the local river system, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea near the Costa del Azahar. The coastal waters in this region support seagrass meadows and marine habitats that are sensitive to nutrient pollution. Effective treatment helps prevent eutrophication and protects the ecological integrity of the Mediterranean coastal zone.