Overview
ZURINGOAIN wastewater treatment plant serves Zumarraga in Euskadi, Spain, with a population equivalent of 34,000. The facility operates under Spain's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
ZURINGOAIN is a wastewater treatment plant located in Zumarraga, within the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country (Euskadi), Spain. The facility serves a population equivalent of 34,000, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under European Union classification. As a Spanish plant, ZURINGOAIN operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar units), indicating a moderate scale of operation. The treated effluent from ZURINGOAIN is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Bay of Biscay via the Oria River basin. The Basque Country's rivers are known for their steep gradients and high ecological value, supporting diverse aquatic life including salmonid species. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.
Environmental context
ZURINGOAIN discharges into the Oria River basin, which flows northward through Gipuzkoa and empties into the Bay of Biscay (Atlantic Ocean). The Oria River supports a diverse ecosystem, including migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon and European eel. The surrounding watershed is characterized by humid Atlantic climate and steep terrain, making the region ecologically sensitive to nutrient loading and pollution.
Frequently asked questions
ZURINGOAIN is located in Zumarraga, in the province of Gipuzkoa, within the autonomous community of Euskadi (Basque Country), Spain.
ZURINGOAIN serves a population equivalent of 34,000, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU classification.
ZURINGOAIN discharges into the Oria River basin, which flows into the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean.
As a Spanish plant serving over 10,000 PE, ZURINGOAIN must comply with the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment and potentially tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 PE are required to provide secondary treatment (biological treatment). In sensitive areas, additional nutrient removal may be mandated.
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