DP01701002_BAGOLINO_P_TE_CAFFARO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ponte Caffaro, Italy

DP01701002_BAGOLINO_P_TE_CAFFARO is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Ponte Caffaro, a frazione of Bagolino in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. The plant serves a population of 2,530 and is situated near the shores of Lake Idro, a subalpine glacial lake in the Valle Sabbia. Its location in the Alpine foothills places it in a sensitive mountain environment where water quality is critical for both tourism and local ecosystems. The plant operates with advanced treatment technology, which goes beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of approximately 500.85 cubic meters per day, the facility has ample capacity to accommodate future growth. The advanced treatment level likely includes nutrient removal, which is important for protecting the receiving waters from eutrophication. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water network that ultimately feeds Lake Idro, which drains via the Chiese River into the Po River and then into the Adriatic Sea. Lake Idro is a popular recreational area, and maintaining high water quality is essential for swimming, fishing, and tourism. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the lake's ecological health.

The plant discharges into the catchment of Lake Idro, a glacial lake in the Italian Alps that flows into the Chiese River, a tributary of the Po River. The Po River then empties into the Adriatic Sea. Lake Idro supports diverse aquatic life and is used for recreation, making nutrient control critical to prevent algal blooms. The advanced treatment at this plant helps safeguard the lake's water quality and the downstream riverine ecosystem.