COPPARO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Copparo, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

COPPARO is a wastewater treatment plant located in Copparo, a town in the province of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 12,991, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations. Its address is 71, Via Alta, within the Unione Terre e Fiumi administrative area. As an Italian plant, COPPARO operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are sensitive areas, such as those subject to eutrophication. The treated effluent from COPPARO is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Po River basin, one of Italy's most significant watersheds. The Po River flows eastward into the Adriatic Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and agricultural irrigation. The plant's location in the Po Valley, a densely populated and agriculturally intensive region, underscores its role in protecting downstream water quality and the sensitive delta environment.

COPPARO's treated wastewater discharges into the Po River basin, which flows through northern Italy and empties into the Adriatic Sea. The Po Delta is an ecologically sensitive area that supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species and migratory birds. The plant's operation helps mitigate nutrient loading and pollution in this important watershed, which is subject to eutrophication risks from agricultural runoff and urban discharges.