CASACALENDA_PIANO_DEI Wastewater Treatment Plant, Casacalenda, Molise, Italy

CASACALENDA_PIANO_DEI is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Casacalenda, a town in the province of Campobasso, Molise region, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,500 residents, reflecting its role in managing municipal wastewater for this small community. As an advanced treatment facility, it goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, ensuring high-quality effluent. The plant has a designed capacity of 4,500 cubic meters per day and currently discharges about 693 cubic meters per day of treated wastewater. Operating under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), the plant meets stringent standards for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment is typical for sensitive areas where nutrient removal is required to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that eventually drains into the Adriatic Sea via the Biferno River or other regional rivers. The plant's inland location, more than 10 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact. Its advanced treatment helps protect downstream ecosystems, including the Biferno River basin and the coastal waters of the Adriatic Sea.

The plant discharges into a local stream that flows into the Biferno River, which then empties into the Adriatic Sea. The Biferno River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water resource for agriculture and ecosystems in Molise. The advanced treatment at this plant helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the river's ecological health, particularly in the lower reaches where the river meets the sea.