Duino Aurisina Sistiana Mare Wastewater Treatment Plant, Friuli-Venezia Giulia

The Duino Aurisina Sistiana Mare wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Duino Aurisina, in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy, near the coast of the Adriatic Sea. The plant serves a population of approximately 7,800 residents in the coastal settlements of Sistiana Mare and surrounding areas. As an Italian wastewater facility, the plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size (7,800 population equivalent). The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar units), indicating it is sized for the local population and seasonal tourist flows common to the Adriatic coast. The treated effluent is discharged into the Gulf of Trieste, part of the northern Adriatic Sea. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is influenced by the karst topography of the region. The plant plays a key role in protecting the coastal water quality of the Adriatic, which is important for tourism, fishing, and the ecological health of the Mediterranean basin.

The plant discharges into the Gulf of Trieste, a northern extension of the Adriatic Sea. This coastal marine environment supports seagrass meadows, fish nurseries, and migratory bird populations. The Karst Plateau nearby contributes to groundwater interactions, making nutrient management critical to prevent eutrophication in the semi-enclosed gulf.