Villafranca del Cid Wastewater Treatment Plant - Vilafranca, Comunitat Valenciana, Spain

The Villafranca del Cid wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Vilafranca/Villafranca del Cid, within the Comunitat Valenciana region of eastern Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,872 people, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under Spanish and EU regulations. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 10,177 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of 796.47 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water resources and downstream ecosystems, including coastal areas that support diverse marine life.

The plant discharges into the local river system, which flows through the interior of Comunitat Valenciana before reaching the Mediterranean Sea. The downstream environment includes ecologically sensitive coastal zones that support diverse aquatic life and important migratory bird routes. Proper treatment helps prevent nutrient pollution and protects the ecological balance of the receiving waters.