Maricao WWTP - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Maricao, Puerto Rico

Maricao WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Maricao Afuera, Maricao, Puerto Rico. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,311 residents and provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level for small communities in the United States and its territories. The facility has a designed capacity of 681.37 cubic meters per day and currently discharges 302.83 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment plant, Maricao WWTP uses biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the effluent standards required by the U.S. Clean Water Act. The plant operates under the jurisdiction of the Puerto Rico Environmental Quality Board (EQB) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which enforce National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for all wastewater discharges in the territory. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually flow to the Caribbean Sea. Given its coastal location within 10 km of the coast, the plant's discharge has direct implications for marine water quality and nearshore ecosystems. The surrounding watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for local fisheries and tourism.

Maricao WWTP discharges treated wastewater into local streams that drain toward the Caribbean Sea, a major marine ecosystem supporting coral reefs, seagrass beds, and diverse fish populations. The plant's coastal proximity means its effluent can influence nearshore water quality, particularly in areas used for recreation and fishing. The watershed is ecologically sensitive due to its tropical climate and biodiversity, requiring careful management of nutrient and pathogen loads to protect downstream habitats.