Alice Castello Wastewater Treatment Plant | Piemonte, Italy

The Alice Castello wastewater treatment plant is located in the Piemonte region of northern Italy, serving the small town of Alice Castello in the province of Vercelli. The facility provides secondary treatment for a population of approximately 1,776 residents, with a designed capacity of 2,500 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment plant, it meets the standard requirements under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The directive mandates secondary treatment for all discharges from agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000, and Alice Castello's population of 1,776 falls just below this threshold, though the plant still provides secondary treatment. The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Po River basin, one of Italy's most significant hydrological systems. The Po River flows eastward across northern Italy to the Adriatic Sea, supporting extensive agricultural activity and diverse aquatic ecosystems. The plant's operation helps protect these downstream environments from untreated wastewater pollution.

The treated effluent from Alice Castello likely enters local streams or canals that feed into the Po River basin. The Po River is Italy's longest river, flowing through the Po Valley to the Adriatic Sea, and supports a rich ecosystem including fish species such as sturgeon and eel. The region's intensive agriculture relies on these waters for irrigation, making effective wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality and ecological balance.