CALTIGNAGA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Caltignaga, Piemonte, Italy

The CALTIGNAGA wastewater treatment plant is located in Caltignaga, a municipality in the province of Novara, Piemonte, Italy. It serves a population of approximately 2,791 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for inland freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. The plant's designed capacity is 3,000 cubic meters per day, and it currently discharges 657.53 cubic meters per day, indicating operational capacity well below design limits. Treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Po River basin, the largest river system in Italy. The Po River flows eastward into the Adriatic Sea, supporting diverse aquatic life and agricultural irrigation. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect the local watershed from nutrient pollution and organic load.

The plant discharges into the Po River basin, which drains into the Adriatic Sea. The Po River is a vital ecological corridor in northern Italy, supporting diverse fish species and migratory birds. Secondary treatment reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, helping to maintain water quality in the downstream environment, which is used for agriculture and recreation.