ALGHERO_LOC_S_MARIA_LA_PALMA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Alghero, Sardinia

ALGHERO_LOC_S_MARIA_LA_PALMA is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Santa Maria La Palma area of Alghero, on the island of Sardinia, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,958 people and is situated along Strada Statale 291 della Nurra. It operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment for discharges into sensitive coastal areas. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard typically mandated for agglomerations of this size under the EU directive. With a designed capacity of 12,900 cubic meters per day and a reported discharge volume of 783.54 cubic meters per day, the facility has significant reserve capacity. Advanced treatment processes likely include nutrient removal to protect the sensitive marine environment. The treated effluent is discharged into the Mediterranean Sea, as the plant is within 10 km of the coast. The receiving waters support diverse marine life and are part of a region known for its ecological importance, including seagrass meadows and coastal habitats. The plant plays a key role in safeguarding water quality along the Alghero coastline and the broader Sardinian marine ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the Mediterranean Sea near Alghero, on the northwestern coast of Sardinia. The coastal waters are part of the larger Mediterranean basin, which supports a rich array of marine biodiversity, including Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows that are ecologically sensitive. The area is also important for tourism and fisheries, making effective wastewater treatment critical to preventing nutrient pollution and protecting marine habitats.