BOLOGNA_CORTICELLA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Castel Maggiore, Emilia-Romagna

BOLOGNA_CORTICELLA is a major wastewater treatment plant located in Castel Maggiore, within the metropolitan area of Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The plant serves a population equivalent of roughly 672,397, classifying it as a large agglomeration under EU regulations. It is situated in the Po River basin, a densely populated and agriculturally intensive region. As a large agglomeration, the plant is required to meet stringent treatment standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For sensitive areas like the Po River basin, tertiary treatment is typically mandated to reduce nutrients and protect water quality. The plant's operational details, including specific treatment processes and capacity, are managed by the local water authority to comply with these regulations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local drainage network, which ultimately flows into the Reno River and then the Adriatic Sea. The Po River basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological corridor. The plant plays a critical role in preventing eutrophication and safeguarding downstream ecosystems, including coastal waters of the northern Adriatic.

The plant discharges into the Reno River, a major tributary of the Po River, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. The Po basin is a sensitive area prone to nutrient pollution from agriculture and urban runoff. Effective treatment at this plant helps protect the ecological health of the Reno and Po rivers, as well as the coastal Adriatic environment, which supports fisheries and migratory bird populations.