DEP_COM_FONTANA_DI_PAPA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ariccia, Lazio, Italy

DEP_COM_FONTANA_DI_PAPA is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Fontana di Papa, a frazione of Ariccia in the Lazio region of Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 20,000 people, placing it in the medium-agglomeration category under Italian and European regulatory frameworks. It is situated inland but within 50 km of the Tyrrhenian Sea. As an Italian plant serving a population of 20,000, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or population equivalent), indicating a facility sized for its service population. Compliance with the directive ensures appropriate treatment before discharge. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into local watercourses that drain toward the Tyrrhenian Sea, contributing to the health of coastal ecosystems. The Lazio region's water bodies support diverse aquatic life and are important for regional biodiversity. Proper treatment at this plant helps protect downstream environments from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant's treated wastewater likely flows into small streams or canals in the Alban Hills region, eventually reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Tiber River basin or coastal drainage systems. The downstream environment includes coastal lagoons and marine habitats that are ecologically sensitive, supporting fish nurseries and migratory bird species. Effective treatment is crucial to prevent eutrophication and protect water quality in these receiving waters.