CAPOLUOGO_COASCO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Villanova d'Albenga, Liguria, Italy

CAPOLUOGO_COASCO is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Coasco area of Villanova d'Albenga, in the Liguria region of northwestern Italy. The plant serves a small population of 2,000 residents and is situated near the Ligurian Sea coast, within 10 km of the shoreline. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants before discharge. With a designed capacity of 2,000 m³/day and a current discharge volume of approximately 396 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), small agglomerations (under 10,000 population equivalent) are required to provide appropriate treatment, and secondary treatment is standard for plants of this scale. The plant's performance is likely monitored by regional environmental authorities to ensure compliance with Italian water quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Ligurian Sea, part of the Mediterranean Sea basin. The coastal environment supports diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish populations. Proper treatment is essential to protect bathing waters and marine ecosystems along the Ligurian Riviera, a region known for tourism and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into small streams that drain into the Ligurian Sea, a semi-enclosed basin of the Mediterranean. The coastal zone supports ecologically sensitive habitats, including seagrass beds and rocky reefs that host diverse marine species. Effective secondary treatment reduces nutrient and organic loads, helping to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality for recreational use and marine life.