Overview
Villafranca de Ebro wastewater treatment plant in Aragon, Spain serves approximately 5,000 people with secondary treatment. The facility is currently closed.
The Villafranca de Ebro wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Villafranca de Ebro, in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. It serves a population of around 5,000 and is situated near the Autopista Zaragoza-Mediterraneo. The plant is currently closed. The plant provided secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The directive mandates secondary treatment for populations between 2,000 and 10,000 in freshwater areas, and the plant's capacity of 4,958 m³/day aligns with this requirement. The plant's discharge likely entered the Ebro River basin, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The Ebro River is one of Spain's major rivers, supporting diverse aquatic life and irrigating extensive agricultural lands.
Environmental context
The plant is located inland in the Ebro River basin, which drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Ebro Delta, a ecologically sensitive area supporting diverse bird species and aquatic habitats. The Ebro River is a vital water source for agriculture and ecosystems in Aragon and Catalonia. The plant's secondary treatment would have helped reduce organic pollution and protect downstream water quality.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Villafranca de Ebro, a municipality in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, near the Autopista Zaragoza-Mediterraneo.
The plant served approximately 5,000 people, which classifies it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant provided secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for populations between 2,000 and 10,000.
It may be due to consolidation with a larger regional treatment facility or infrastructure upgrades.
The EU UWWTD requires secondary treatment for all discharges from agglomerations of 2,000 to 10,000 population equivalent in freshwater areas, which this plant complied with.
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