VILLANUEVA DE LA REINA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Andalucía, Spain

VILLANUEVA DE LA REINA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Villanueva de la Reina, Jaén, in the Andalucía region of Spain. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,000 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and treats municipal 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 freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 5,000 cubic meters per day, the plant handles an average daily flow of 906.24 cubic meters, indicating it operates well below its capacity. The treatment process likely involves biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse, contributing to the Guadalquivir River basin, which flows through Andalucía and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of Cádiz. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality and supporting the ecological health of downstream aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Guadalquivir River, one of Spain's major rivers, which flows through Andalucía and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of Cádiz. The Guadalquivir basin supports diverse aquatic life, including migratory fish species, and its delta is an ecologically sensitive area. Secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in downstream waters.