DEP_PERTETA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Villafranca in Lunigiana, Toscana

DEP_PERTETA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Villafranca in Lunigiana, a municipality in the Toscana region of Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,753 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, but within 50 km of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant provides primary treatment, which involves physical processes such as sedimentation to remove settleable solids. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), small agglomerations (under 10,000 population equivalent) are generally required to have appropriate treatment, which may include primary treatment if the receiving waters are not sensitive. The plant has a designed capacity of 1,600 m³/day and currently discharges 545 m³/day, indicating it operates below its capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that eventually flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Magra River basin. The region is characterized by hilly terrain and a Mediterranean climate. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems, including the coastal marine environment.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Magra River, which flows into the Ligurian Sea (Tyrrhenian Sea). The Magra River basin supports diverse aquatic life and is an important corridor for migratory fish. The coastal area near the mouth of the Magra is ecologically sensitive, with habitats that depend on good water quality. Primary treatment reduces suspended solids but does not remove nutrients, so the plant's discharge may contribute to nutrient loading in the river and sea.