Camuy Hatillo WWTP - Municipal Wastewater Treatment in Camuy, Puerto Rico

Camuy Hatillo WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Camuy, Puerto Rico, serving a population of about 29,048. The plant is situated near the northern coast of the island, within 50 kilometers of the Atlantic Ocean, and plays a key role in managing wastewater from the Camuy and Hatillo areas. As a facility in a US territory, it operates under the Clean Water Act and is subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, which sets effluent limits to protect water quality. For a facility serving a medium-sized agglomeration, secondary treatment is typically required under US regulations to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Its location near the coast suggests that treated effluent likely enters a river or stream that flows to the Atlantic Ocean. The receiving water body is not named, but the plant is within the drainage basin of the northern coastal region of Puerto Rico, which includes several rivers such as the Camuy River. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and contributes to the ecological health of the Atlantic coastal zone. Proper treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect marine habitats, including coral reefs and seagrass beds that are sensitive to wastewater discharges.

Camuy Hatillo WWTP discharges into the northern coastal watershed of Puerto Rico, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean. The region's rivers, including the Camuy River, support freshwater and estuarine ecosystems that are important for fish and wildlife. The coastal waters near Camuy are ecologically sensitive, hosting coral reefs and seagrass beds that require low nutrient levels to thrive. Effective wastewater treatment helps prevent eutrophication and protects these marine habitats from degradation.