ANELLO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Guardiagrele, Italy

ANELLO is a wastewater treatment plant located in Guardiagrele, a town in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,000 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU regulations. It is situated inland, about 14 km from the Adriatic Sea. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 2,000 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 395.93 m³/day, indicating operational headroom. As an Italian facility, it is subject to national implementation of the directive, overseen by regional environmental agencies. The treated effluent likely discharges into a local watercourse that flows toward the Adriatic Sea, contributing to the health of the downstream aquatic ecosystem. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality in the Abruzzo region, which features diverse landscapes from the Apennines to the coast.

The plant's treated effluent enters a local stream or river within the Adriatic Sea basin, ultimately reaching the Adriatic Sea. This coastal region supports diverse marine life and is important for fisheries and tourism. The secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and protect downstream water quality in a ecologically sensitive area.