FANANO_NUOVO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Serrazzone, Fanano, Emilia-Romagna

FANANO_NUOVO is a wastewater treatment plant located in Serrazzone, a locality within the municipality of Fanano, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. The plant serves a population of about 4,038 people, placing it in the small agglomeration category under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD). It is situated in the Apennine mountains, an area characterized by rugged terrain and dispersed settlements. As a small agglomeration in a sensitive mountainous region, the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment in accordance with EU UWWTD requirements. The directive mandates secondary treatment for all discharges from agglomerations of 2,000 to 10,000 population equivalent (PE) into freshwaters and estuaries. Given the ecological sensitivity of mountain streams, the plant likely employs biological treatment processes to reduce organic matter and nutrients before discharge. The treated effluent from FANANO_NUOVO ultimately drains into the Panaro River, a tributary of the Po River, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. The Po River basin is a major agricultural and industrial region, and the Panaro contributes to its water quality. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local watercourses and the downstream Po Delta ecosystem from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

The plant discharges into the Panaro River, a tributary of the Po River, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. The Po River basin is one of Italy's most important ecological and economic regions, supporting diverse aquatic life and extensive agriculture. The mountainous terrain of the Apennines means the receiving waters are sensitive to nutrient enrichment and require effective treatment to prevent eutrophication and protect downstream habitats.