Overview
VILLAMALEA wastewater treatment plant in Villamalea, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain, serves approximately 11,288 people with advanced treatment.
VILLAMALEA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Villamalea, a municipality in the province of Albacete, within the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The plant serves a population of around 11,288 residents, placing it in the medium agglomeration category under Spanish and EU regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. This level of treatment is typically implemented in sensitive areas or where higher effluent quality is needed to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent from VILLAMALEA is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Júcar River basin, which flows eastward to the Mediterranean Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and supports the ecological health of the Júcar River and its tributaries.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Júcar River basin, which flows through eastern Spain and empties into the Mediterranean Sea near Cullera. The Júcar River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water resource for agriculture and urban areas. Advanced treatment at VILLAMALEA reduces nutrient loads and pollutants, helping to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality in the river and its downstream coastal environment.
Frequently asked questions
VILLAMALEA is located in Villamalea, a municipality in the province of Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The full address is Camino de la Casa de la Media Legua, Villamalea, Albacete, 02270.
The plant serves approximately 11,288 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU wastewater treatment directives.
VILLAMALEA employs advanced treatment, which exceeds the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. This ensures high-quality effluent before discharge.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent above 10,000 are required to have secondary treatment. VILLAMALEA, serving over 11,000 people, meets this requirement and goes further with advanced treatment, which is often mandated in sensitive areas.
The treated wastewater from VILLAMALEA is discharged into the Júcar River basin, which flows to the Mediterranean Sea. Advanced treatment helps protect the river's ecosystem and coastal waters from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.
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