Overview
VILLENA wastewater treatment plant serves Villena in Comunitat Valenciana, Spain, with a population equivalent of 77,225. The facility operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The VILLENA wastewater treatment plant is located in Villena, within the Comunitat Valenciana region of eastern Spain. Serving a population equivalent of 77,225, the plant is a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU classification, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard. The facility is situated inland, approximately 50 km from the Mediterranean coast, and its treated effluent ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea via local river systems. The plant's discharge contributes to the regional water cycle, supporting downstream ecosystems and agricultural water reuse in the semi-arid climate of the Vinalopó Valley. The facility plays a key role in protecting local water quality and the ecological health of the receiving water bodies, which flow into the Mediterranean Sea.
Environmental context
The VILLENA plant discharges into the Vinalopó River basin, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Santa Pola. The downstream environment includes ecologically sensitive coastal wetlands and marine habitats that support diverse aquatic life. The plant's operations help mitigate nutrient loading and pollution in this semi-arid region, where water resources are critical for both human use and ecosystem health.
Frequently asked questions
The VILLENA plant is located in Villena, in the Comunitat Valenciana region of eastern Spain, within the Vinalopó Valley.
The plant serves a population equivalent of 77,225, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Vinalopó River basin, which ultimately flows into the Mediterranean Sea.
The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size and tertiary treatment in sensitive areas.
Under Spanish implementation of the EU directive, plants serving over 50,000 people typically require secondary treatment, with tertiary treatment in sensitive catchments to reduce nutrients and protect coastal waters.
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