DP01205801_CUASSO_AL_MONTE, Cuasso al Piano

Overview

DP01205801_CUASSO_AL_MONTE is a wastewater treatment plant in Cuasso al Piano, Lombardy, Italy, serving approximately 15,430 people. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

DP01205801_CUASSO_AL_MONTE is a wastewater treatment plant located in Cuasso al Piano, a frazione of Cuasso al Monte in the province of Varese, Lombardy, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 15,430, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. It is situated in the subalpine region near the Italian-Swiss border, an area characterized by hilly terrain and numerous lakes. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent between 10,000 and 150,000 are required to provide secondary treatment (biological treatment) as a minimum. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with discharge standards for organic matter and suspended solids. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant discharges into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Po River basin via the Ticino River. The Ticino River is a major tributary of the Po, flowing through the Lombardy region and into the Adriatic Sea. The area supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a broader ecological network that includes the Ticino Valley Regional Park, an important corridor for migratory birds and native fish species.

Environmental context

The plant's treated effluent enters the local water network that feeds into the Ticino River, a major tributary of the Po River. The Po River flows eastward across northern Italy and discharges into the Adriatic Sea. The Ticino River is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic habitats and serving as a migratory corridor for fish species such as the European eel and the Adriatic sturgeon. The watershed is also part of a regional park system that protects riparian forests and wetlands, which help filter pollutants and maintain water quality.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located in Cuasso al Piano, a frazione of Cuasso al Monte in the province of Varese, Lombardy, Italy. It is situated near the border with Switzerland, in the subalpine region.

The plant serves approximately 15,430 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.

The treated wastewater is discharged into the local watershed, which flows into the Ticino River, a major tributary of the Po River. The Po River ultimately discharges into the Adriatic Sea.

As an Italian plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. Compliance is enforced by regional environmental authorities.

For medium agglomerations (10,000-150,000 PE), the EU UWWTD mandates secondary treatment, typically involving biological processes such as activated sludge or trickling filters. In sensitive areas, tertiary treatment for nutrient removal may be required.