Overview
BITONTO wastewater treatment plant serves Bitonto, Puglia, Italy, with a population of 75,750. It has a designed capacity of 1.00 and is located within 50 km of the coast.
The BITONTO wastewater treatment plant is located in Bitonto, in the Puglia region of southern Italy. It serves a population of approximately 75,750 people, placing it in the medium-to-large agglomeration category under EU classification. The plant is situated near the Adriatic coast, within 50 km of the sea. As an Italian facility, BITONTO operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's designed capacity is 1. Italian regulations mandate compliance with national standards that transpose EU directives, ensuring appropriate treatment levels for sensitive coastal areas. The treated effluent from BITONTO ultimately discharges into the Adriatic Sea, a semi-enclosed basin with significant ecological importance. The plant plays a key role in protecting coastal water quality and marine ecosystems in the region, supporting tourism and fisheries along the Puglian coast.
Environmental context
The BITONTO plant discharges into the Adriatic Sea, a semi-enclosed sea connected to the Ionian Sea via the Strait of Otranto. The coastal waters of Puglia support diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and important fish nursery habitats. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast means its effluent quality is critical for maintaining the ecological health of the Adriatic, which is subject to nutrient enrichment and eutrophication pressures from agricultural and urban runoff.
Frequently asked questions
The BITONTO wastewater treatment plant is located in Bitonto, in the Puglia region of southern Italy, near the Adriatic coast.
The BITONTO plant serves a population of approximately 75,750 people, classifying it as a medium-to-large agglomeration under EU standards.
The treated wastewater from BITONTO is discharged into the Adriatic Sea, which is a semi-enclosed basin with important marine ecosystems.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), BITONTO, serving over 10,000 people, is required to provide secondary treatment. As it is within 50 km of the coast, it may also need additional treatment to protect sensitive coastal waters.
In Italy, wastewater treatment plants serving around 75,000 people typically employ secondary biological treatment, such as activated sludge, to meet EU standards. Plants near sensitive coastal areas may also implement tertiary treatment for nutrient removal.
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