DP01401103_CAIOLO_PALU - Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Caiolo, Lombardy

DP01401103_CAIOLO_PALU is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in the small town of Caiolo, within the Lombardy region of northern Italy. The plant serves a population of 121 people, reflecting its role in a rural alpine community. It is situated along Strada Provinciale Orobica in the Palù area, part of the Valtellina valley near Sondrio. As an advanced treatment facility, it goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, ensuring high-quality effluent. The plant has a designed capacity of 121 cubic meters per day and currently discharges approximately 23.95 cubic meters per day. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), Italy requires appropriate treatment for agglomerations of this size, and the advanced level here exceeds the minimum secondary treatment standard. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Adda River, a major tributary of the Po River. The Po River flows eastward into the Adriatic Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the sensitive alpine aquatic ecosystems and downstream water quality in the Po basin, supporting biodiversity and recreational uses.

The plant discharges into the local watershed that feeds the Adda River, a key tributary of the Po River. The Po River flows through northern Italy and empties into the Adriatic Sea. The alpine streams in this region support diverse aquatic life, including native fish species, and the advanced treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive area.