Villanueva de la Concepción, Andalucía

Overview

Villanueva de la Concepción wastewater treatment plant in Andalucía, Spain, serves 4,200 people with secondary treatment. It discharges 761.24 m³/day and operates under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

Villanueva de la Concepción wastewater treatment plant is located in the province of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. It serves a population of approximately 4,200 residents in the municipality of Villanueva de la Concepción. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and treats wastewater from the local community. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. The designed capacity is 4,200 m³/day, matching the population served, and the current discharge volume is 761.24 m³/day. The plant is part of Spain's national wastewater infrastructure, regulated by the regional government of Andalucía. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that eventually drains into the Mediterranean Sea via the Guadalhorce River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems, including the Guadalhorce wetlands, which support diverse aquatic life and migratory birds.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Guadalhorce River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Málaga. The Guadalhorce basin supports irrigated agriculture and provides habitat for aquatic species. Downstream, the Guadalhorce wetlands are an ecologically sensitive area that hosts migratory birds and diverse flora. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in the coastal zone.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located in Villanueva de la Concepción, a municipality in the province of Málaga, Andalucía, Spain. It lies inland, more than 10 km from the coast.

The plant serves approximately 4,200 residents of Villanueva de la Concepción and surrounding areas.

The plant discharges treated effluent into a local watercourse that flows into the Guadalhorce River, which ultimately reaches the Mediterranean Sea near Málaga.

The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size (2,000-10,000 population equivalent).

The plant operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for inland plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 people. Compliance is overseen by the regional government of Andalucía.