DEP_PIANO_PIEVE_2 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Tuscany

DEP_PIANO_PIEVE_2 is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, a town in the Garfagnana region of Tuscany, Italy. The plant serves a small population of 296 residents, reflecting its role in a rural, mountainous area. It is part of the Unione Comuni Garfagnana, a consortium of municipalities managing local services. 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 with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000. However, for smaller agglomerations like this one (under 2,000 PE), member states may apply less stringent requirements, though secondary treatment is still commonly implemented to protect sensitive water bodies. The plant has a designed capacity of 300 m³/day, with a current discharge volume of 58.60 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Serchio River. The Serchio flows through the Garfagnana valley and into the Ligurian Sea near Viareggio. The plant's operation helps protect the Serchio River and downstream coastal ecosystems from nutrient pollution, supporting aquatic life and water quality in the region.

The plant discharges into the Serchio River basin, which flows through the Apuan Alps and the Garfagnana region before reaching the Ligurian Sea. The Serchio supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water resource for agriculture and tourism. Downstream, the river's estuary near Viareggio is ecologically sensitive, hosting migratory birds and fish species. Secondary treatment reduces organic load and suspended solids, helping to maintain the river's ecological balance and prevent eutrophication in coastal waters.