Overview
BIELLA_PONDERANO_BIELLA_SUD is a wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 2,300 people in Biella, Piemonte, Italy. It operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
BIELLA_PONDERANO_BIELLA_SUD is a wastewater treatment plant located in Biella, in the Piemonte region of northwestern Italy. The plant serves a small agglomeration of around 2,300 residents, reflecting the scale of local communities in this Alpine foothill area. Its address at Corso Novellino Casalvolone places it within the municipal infrastructure of Biella. As a small-scale plant in Italy, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive mandates secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater bodies, with possible tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive. The plant's capacity and operational status align with standard practices for small Italian treatment facilities. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Po River basin, one of Italy's major hydrological systems. The Po River flows eastward to the Adriatic Sea, supporting diverse aquatic life and agricultural irrigation. The plant's operation helps protect local streams and the broader Po ecosystem from nutrient pollution and organic loading.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent enters the local drainage network, which feeds into the Po River basin. The Po River is Italy's longest river, flowing through the Po Valley to the Adriatic Sea. This watershed supports extensive agriculture and is ecologically important for fish species and migratory birds. The plant's location in the Alpine foothills means its discharge contributes to headwater streams that are sensitive to nutrient enrichment.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Biella, in the Piemonte region of northwestern Italy, at Corso Novellino Casalvolone, Cascina Ballegna.
The plant serves approximately 2,297 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that are part of the Po River basin, eventually reaching the Adriatic Sea.
As an Italian plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for discharges to freshwater from agglomerations of this size.
For small agglomerations in Italy, secondary treatment is standard under the EU UWWTD. Some plants may also include preliminary treatment and disinfection depending on local requirements.
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