DP01805301_COPIANO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Copiano, Lombardy, Italy

DP01805301_COPIANO is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located on Strada Provinciale 31 in Copiano, a town in the province of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,581 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 3,800 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 708.91 m³/day, the plant operates well within its capacity. As an Italian facility, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates appropriate treatment levels based on the sensitivity of receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Po River basin, ultimately reaching the Adriatic Sea. The Po River is Italy's longest river and supports extensive agricultural irrigation, diverse aquatic habitats, and important migratory bird routes. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect these downstream ecosystems from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into the Po River basin, which flows eastward through northern Italy and empties into the Adriatic Sea. The Po River and its tributaries support a rich variety of aquatic life, including fish species such as sturgeon and eel, and provide critical habitat for migratory birds. The advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the Adriatic Sea, a semi-enclosed basin sensitive to algal blooms.