ACQUI_TERME_FONTANELLE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Acqui Terme, Piemonte, Italy

The ACQUI_TERME_FONTANELLE wastewater treatment plant is located in Acqui Terme, a town in the Piemonte region of northern Italy. The facility serves a population of approximately 29,921, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, away from the coast, and its treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Po River basin. As an Italian plant serving over 10,000 people, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum. For sensitive areas, tertiary treatment may be mandated. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar units), indicating it is sized to handle the local wastewater load. The facility is expected to comply with national and EU standards. The plant's discharge ultimately reaches the Po River, Italy's longest river, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. The Po basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important agricultural and ecological corridor. Proper treatment at this plant helps protect downstream water quality and the sensitive ecosystems of the Po Delta, a region of high ecological value.

The plant's treated effluent enters local streams that feed into the Po River, which flows eastward through northern Italy to the Adriatic Sea. The Po basin is a vital agricultural and ecological region, supporting diverse fish species and migratory birds. The Po Delta, where the river meets the sea, is an ecologically sensitive area with extensive wetlands and lagoons. Effective wastewater treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting downstream water quality and the health of the Adriatic coastal environment.