CARAGLIO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Caraglio, Piemonte, Italy

The CARAGLIO wastewater treatment plant is located in Caraglio, in the Piemonte region of northern Italy. It serves a population of approximately 4,825 people, making it a small agglomeration under Italian and EU classification. The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and treats municipal wastewater from the local community. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. It has a designed capacity of 10,000 m³/day and currently discharges an average volume of 894.71 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse, likely a tributary of the Po River basin, which ultimately flows into the Adriatic Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local watershed from pollution, supporting water quality for downstream communities and ecosystems. Its operation is regulated under Italian national law implementing EU directives.

The plant discharges into a local watercourse within the Po River basin, the largest river system in Italy. The Po River flows eastward across the Po Valley and empties into the Adriatic Sea near Venice. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive due to agricultural runoff and industrial pressures. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and organic pollution, contributing to the health of downstream rivers and the Adriatic coastal zone.