Cornuda La Valle Via San Valentino Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cornuda, Veneto

The Cornuda La Valle Via San Valentino wastewater treatment plant is located in Cornuda, a town in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,969 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and discharges treated water into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Adriatic Sea. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies. The designed capacity is 3,000 m³/day, with a reported discharge volume of 587.76 m³/day, indicating operational capacity well within design limits. The treated effluent is discharged into the local drainage network, which flows into the Piave River basin and ultimately reaches the Adriatic Sea. The Veneto region features a dense network of rivers and canals that support agriculture and biodiversity. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading, protecting downstream ecosystems and the coastal environment of the northern Adriatic, which is known for eutrophication sensitivity.

The plant discharges into the Piave River basin, which flows into the Adriatic Sea near Venice. The northern Adriatic is a shallow, semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution from agricultural and urban runoff. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nitrogen and phosphorus loads, helping to mitigate eutrophication risks and protect marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and fish spawning grounds.