CASTELLAFIUME_CAPOLUOGO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Castellafiume, Italy

CASTELLAFIUME_CAPOLUOGO is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Castellafiume, a town in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. The plant serves a population of about 2,160 residents and is situated in the Apennine mountain region, characterized by a temperate climate and rugged terrain. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids, meeting the standards required for inland discharge. The plant operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000. With a designed capacity of 2,000 cubic meters per day and a discharge volume of 427.6 cubic meters per day, the facility has ample capacity to handle current loads. The regulatory framework ensures that treated effluent meets quality standards for discharge into receiving waters. The treated wastewater is discharged into a local watercourse that eventually flows into the Liri River basin, which drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the local watershed from untreated sewage, supporting aquatic life and downstream water quality. Its inland location reduces direct marine impact, but proper treatment remains essential for the ecological health of the region's rivers and groundwater.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Liri River, which flows through central Italy before reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea near Gaeta. The Liri basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as trout and chub, and provides water for agriculture and drinking. The secondary treatment process reduces organic pollutants and nutrients, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream waters and maintaining the ecological balance of the river system.