Guardamonti Wastewater Treatment Plant, Collesalardo, Abruzzo, Italy

Guardamonti is a wastewater treatment plant located in Collesalardo, a frazione of Palena in the province of Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,300 residents and is part of the regional water infrastructure managed under Italian and European regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 653.28 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Adriatic Sea via the Aventino River and then the Sangro River. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of these rivers and the downstream coastal environment, supporting aquatic life and recreational uses.

The plant discharges into the Aventino River, a tributary of the Sangro River, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is important for regional biodiversity. The secondary treatment ensures that nutrient loads are reduced, helping to prevent eutrophication in the Adriatic coastal zone, which is ecologically sensitive and supports fisheries and tourism.