Depuratore di Fai della Paganella - Advanced Wastewater Treatment in Trentino-Alto Adige

Depuratore di Fai della Paganella is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Fai della Paganella, a municipality in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of northern Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,606 residents and has a designed capacity of 5,200 cubic meters per day, with an average daily discharge of 467.70 cubic meters. As an advanced treatment facility, the plant goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting stringent standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size, the directive requires secondary treatment, but the plant's advanced level indicates it operates in a sensitive area or under local regulations that demand higher removal rates for nitrogen and phosphorus. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Adige River basin, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's freshwater ecosystems, particularly the Adige River, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for irrigation and drinking water downstream.

The plant discharges into the Adige River basin, which flows south through Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto before entering the Adriatic Sea near Chioggia. The Adige is Italy's second-longest river and supports a rich aquatic ecosystem, including fish species such as brown trout and grayling. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading, protecting downstream water quality in the Adriatic coastal zone.