CASTELLAVAZZO_MALCOM Wastewater Treatment Plant, Castellavazzo, Veneto, Italy

CASTELLAVAZZO_MALCOM is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Castellavazzo, a frazione of Longarone in the Veneto region of northern Italy. The plant serves a small population of 407 residents and operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant provides secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 800 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 80.57 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating it is sized for future growth or seasonal peaks. The facility is situated in the alpine foothills of the Dolomites, an area known for its mountainous terrain and pristine water resources. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Piave River, a major river in northeastern Italy that flows into the Adriatic Sea near Venice. The Piave River basin supports diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive due to its alpine origins and downstream importance for irrigation and drinking water. The plant's secondary treatment helps protect the Piave River and the Adriatic coastal ecosystem from nutrient pollution.

The plant discharges into local streams that feed the Piave River, which flows south through the Veneto region and enters the Adriatic Sea near the Venetian Lagoon. The Piave basin is an ecologically sensitive area, supporting fish species such as trout and grayling in its upper reaches, and providing habitat for migratory birds in its delta. The secondary treatment level ensures compliance with EU standards for organic matter and suspended solids, reducing the risk of eutrophication in the downstream coastal environment.