Castelnuovo Rangone Wastewater Treatment Plant - Serving Emilia-Romagna, Italy

The Castelnuovo Rangone wastewater treatment plant is located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, serving the municipality of Castelnuovo Rangone and surrounding areas. With a population equivalent of approximately 26,000, the plant is classified as a medium-sized agglomeration under Italian and European regulations. As an Italian facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's compliance with national and EU standards ensures appropriate treatment for its scale. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Po River basin, one of Italy's most significant hydrological systems. The Po River flows eastward into the Adriatic Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and agricultural activities along its course. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting these downstream environments from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Panaro River, a right-bank tributary of the Po River. The Po River basin is the largest in Italy, draining into the Adriatic Sea. This watershed supports extensive agriculture and is ecologically sensitive to nutrient loading, which can cause eutrophication in the Adriatic. The plant's treatment helps mitigate such impacts.