DEP_CASTELNUOVO_G_OSPEDALE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Tuscany

DEP_CASTELNUOVO_G_OSPEDALE is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, a town in the Garfagnana region of Tuscany, Italy. The plant serves a population of about 893 people and is part of the local wastewater infrastructure managed by the Unione Comuni Garfagnana. Its location in the Serchio River valley places it within a mountainous inland area, away from the coast. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 1000 m³/day, the plant is appropriately scaled for the population served. The treatment process typically involves biological oxidation and sedimentation to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Serchio River and then into the Ligurian Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Serchio River basin from pollution, supporting aquatic life and downstream water quality. Its operation is essential for maintaining the ecological health of the Garfagnana region.

The plant discharges into the Serchio River basin, which flows through the Garfagnana valley and eventually reaches the Ligurian Sea near Viareggio. The Serchio River supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is an important water resource for the region. Secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and organic pollutants, safeguarding the river's ecological balance and downstream coastal waters.