DP02005203_RONCOFERRARO - Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Barbassolo, Lombardy

DP02005203_RONCOFERRARO is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Barbassolo, a locality within the municipality of Roncoferraro in the province of Mantova, Lombardy, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,751 residents and has a designed capacity of 4,000 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of 742.57 cubic meters per day. As an advanced treatment plant, it goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which is typical for facilities in sensitive areas under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). Italy implements this directive through national legislation, requiring advanced treatment for agglomerations discharging into eutrophic or sensitive water bodies. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local hydrological network, which ultimately drains into the Po River basin. The Po River is Italy's longest river and flows into the Adriatic Sea, supporting a rich ecosystem and providing water for agriculture and industry. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and aquatic life.

The plant is located inland in the Po River basin, one of Italy's most important watersheds. Treated effluent from the plant flows into local waterways that eventually reach the Po River, which discharges into the Adriatic Sea. The Po basin supports diverse aquatic habitats and is ecologically sensitive due to nutrient loading from agricultural and urban runoff. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient inputs, protecting downstream ecosystems and the Adriatic coastal zone.