CASTELNUOVO_DEL_GARDA FERRATELLA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sona, Italy

CASTELNUOVO_DEL_GARDA_FERRATELLA is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Sona, in the province of Verona, Veneto, Italy. The facility serves a population equivalent of 2,604 and has a design capacity of 4,000 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 515.5 m³/day. As an advanced treatment plant, it provides a higher level of pollutant removal beyond secondary treatment, which is typical for sensitive areas under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant operates under Italy's implementation of the EU UWWTD, which requires appropriate treatment based on the size of the agglomeration and the sensitivity of the receiving waters. For a plant of this scale, advanced treatment is often mandated when discharging into sensitive areas such as lakes or coastal zones to protect water quality. The facility's advanced treatment process likely includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to prevent eutrophication in downstream water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Adige River basin and then into the Adriatic Sea. The region is part of the Po Valley watershed, a densely populated agricultural and industrial area. The advanced treatment helps protect the ecological health of the Adige River and the northern Adriatic Sea, which support diverse aquatic life and are important for tourism and fisheries.

The plant discharges into the local drainage network that flows into the Adige River, one of Italy's major rivers, which empties into the Adriatic Sea near the Po Delta. The Adige basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is a critical water resource for agriculture and drinking water. The advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in the Adriatic Sea, which is ecologically sensitive due to its shallow depth and limited water exchange.