CRESCENTINO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Crescentino, Piemonte, Italy

The CRESCENTINO wastewater treatment plant is located in Crescentino, in the Piemonte region of northern Italy. It serves a population of approximately 6,000 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). The plant is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are subject to Italian national regulations that implement EU directives. As a small-scale facility, the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment in accordance with the EU UWWTD, which sets minimum treatment standards based on population equivalents. The directive requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent above 2,000, and more stringent tertiary treatment in sensitive areas. Given the plant's location in the Po River basin, which includes sensitive zones, advanced treatment may be required to protect water quality. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Po River, one of Italy's major rivers. The Po River flows eastward into the Adriatic Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for agriculture and industry. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the local watershed and downstream environments from pollution.

The CRESCENTINO plant discharges into tributaries of the Po River, which flows through the Po Valley and empties into the Adriatic Sea. The Po basin is a densely populated and agriculturally intensive region, making wastewater treatment essential for maintaining water quality. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The plant's operations help reduce nutrient and pollutant loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the Adriatic Sea.