Finale Emilia Massa Finalese Wastewater Treatment Plant, Finale Emilia, Italy

The Finale Emilia Massa Finalese wastewater treatment plant is located in Finale Emilia, a town in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. The facility serves a population of approximately 5,148 and is designed to handle a capacity of 5,000 cubic meters per day, with an actual discharge volume of 674.04 cubic meters per day. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), Italy requires advanced treatment for agglomerations discharging into sensitive areas. Although the specific receiving water body is not named, the plant's advanced treatment level suggests it operates in a sensitive catchment. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Po River basin, one of Italy's most important hydrological systems. The Po River flows eastward into the Adriatic Sea, supporting extensive agricultural and ecological networks. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.

The plant discharges into the Po River basin, which drains into the Adriatic Sea. The Po River is the longest river in Italy and supports a diverse ecosystem, including migratory fish species and important wetlands. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in the Adriatic coastal zone.