Overview
Cattolica wastewater treatment plant serves over 118,000 people in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It is located near the Adriatic coast and operates under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive requirements.
The Cattolica wastewater treatment plant is a major municipal facility serving the coastal city of Cattolica in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. With a population equivalent of over 118,000, it ranks as a large agglomeration under EU classification, requiring advanced treatment to protect sensitive coastal waters. As a plant of this scale in a European Union member state, Cattolica is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary biological treatment as a minimum and tertiary treatment for discharges into sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in cubic meters per second or similar unit), indicating significant infrastructure to handle the region's wastewater. The plant's treated effluent ultimately reaches the Adriatic Sea, a semi-enclosed marine basin that is ecologically sensitive due to its limited water exchange and high nutrient vulnerability. The facility plays a critical role in preventing eutrophication and protecting coastal water quality, supporting tourism and marine biodiversity along the Romagna Riviera.
Environmental context
The Cattolica plant discharges into the Adriatic Sea, a shallow, semi-enclosed basin that receives nutrient inputs from multiple rivers along the Italian coast. The local watershed includes the Conca and Marano rivers, which drain the Emilia-Romagna hinterland. The Adriatic Sea supports diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries, and is vulnerable to algal blooms from nutrient pollution. Effective wastewater treatment is essential to maintain water quality for tourism and fisheries.
Frequently asked questions
The Cattolica wastewater treatment plant is located at 15 Via Glicini in Cattolica, in the province of Rimini, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It serves the coastal city and surrounding areas.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the Adriatic Sea, likely via an outfall along the coast. As a large agglomeration, it must meet stringent EU standards for nutrient removal to protect the marine environment.
The plant helps protect the Conca and Marano rivers, which flow through the Emilia-Romagna region into the Adriatic Sea. By treating wastewater, it reduces nutrient and pollutant loads that could otherwise harm these watercourses.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), the Cattolica plant, serving over 118,000 people, is classified as a large agglomeration. It is required to provide secondary treatment as a minimum, and likely tertiary treatment due to its discharge into a sensitive coastal area.
In Italy, plants serving over 100,000 people typically employ secondary biological treatment followed by tertiary processes such as nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to comply with EU directives. This is especially important for coastal plants to prevent eutrophication in the Adriatic Sea.
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