DEP_COM_MOLE_O_PIETRARA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Albano Laziale, Lazio, Italy

DEP_COM_MOLE_O_PIETRARA_VIA_MATER_DEI is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Albano Laziale, a town in the Lazio region of Italy. The plant serves a population of 3,000 and is situated in the Alban Hills, an area of volcanic origin with a Mediterranean climate. It operates as part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the Roma Capitale metropolitan area. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day and a discharge volume of 593.89 cubic meters per day, it operates well below its capacity. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment, but the advanced level here indicates a higher standard, likely due to the sensitivity of the receiving environment. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Tiber River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water resources, including the nearby Lake Albano and the coastal ecosystems of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and supports the ecological health of downstream waters.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Tiber River, which ultimately reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Alban Hills area features volcanic lakes such as Lake Albano, which are ecologically sensitive and support diverse aquatic life. The advanced treatment at this plant helps minimize nutrient pollution, protecting both freshwater and marine habitats in the region.