DP01213301_VARESE_OLONA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Varese, Lombardy, Italy

DP01213301_VARESE_OLONA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Varese, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. The facility serves a population of approximately 74,400, placing it in the medium-to-large agglomeration category under EU classification. The plant is situated in the Po River basin, a densely populated and industrialized area. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment as a minimum, with tertiary treatment mandated if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The regulatory framework ensures compliance with European standards for wastewater treatment. The treated effluent is discharged into the Olona River, a tributary of the Po River, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the water quality of the Olona River and the downstream Po River ecosystem, supporting aquatic life and preventing eutrophication in the Adriatic.

The plant discharges into the Olona River, which flows into the Po River and ultimately reaches the Adriatic Sea. The Po River basin is a major agricultural and industrial region, and the plant helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the Adriatic. The area supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as the European eel and various migratory birds along the Po Delta.