DEPURATORE DI CARBONARE - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Folgaria, Trentino-Alto Adige

DEPURATORE DI CARBONARE is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Carbonare, a frazione of Folgaria in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region of northern Italy. The plant serves a population of 2,353 and is situated in the Alpine foothills, an area known for its mountainous terrain and seasonal tourism. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters. The plant has a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day and discharges an average volume of 309.71 m³/day, indicating ample capacity for current loads. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Adige River basin, eventually reaching the Adriatic Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's Alpine streams and downstream ecosystems from nutrient pollution, supporting water quality in a area valued for its natural environment and outdoor recreation.

The plant discharges into small streams that feed the Adige River, one of Italy's major rivers flowing into the Adriatic Sea. The local watershed includes sensitive Alpine ecosystems that support diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as brown trout. Advanced treatment helps prevent eutrophication in downstream water bodies and protects the ecological integrity of the Adige basin.