FRUGAROLO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Frugarolo, Piemonte, Italy

The FRUGAROLO wastewater treatment plant is located in Frugarolo, a town in the Piemonte region of Italy, within the province of Alessandria. The facility serves a population of approximately 3,900 residents, making it a small-scale municipal treatment plant. Its location in the Po River basin places it within a densely populated and agriculturally important region of northern Italy. As a plant serving a small agglomeration, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires appropriate treatment for discharges into freshwater bodies. Plants of this scale in Italy typically employ secondary biological treatment to meet national and EU standards. The designed capacity of 1.00 suggests a modest infrastructure tailored to the local community's needs. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that eventually flow into the Po River, Italy's longest river, which drains into the Adriatic Sea. The Po basin supports extensive agriculture, industry, and biodiversity. Proper treatment at plants like FRUGAROLO is essential to protect downstream water quality and the ecological health of the Po River and its delta.

The FRUGAROLO plant is situated in the Po River basin, with treated effluent likely entering small tributaries that feed into the Po River. The Po flows eastward across northern Italy and discharges into the Adriatic Sea via a large delta. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as sturgeon and eel, and provides irrigation for the Po Valley's intensive agriculture. Effective wastewater treatment is critical to prevent nutrient enrichment and maintain the ecological balance of this important river system.