Overview
IDI_AQUARNO is a major wastewater treatment plant serving over 1.1 million people in Santa Croce sull'Arno, Tuscany, Italy. It operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates advanced treatment for large agglomerations in
IDI_AQUARNO is a large wastewater treatment plant located in Santa Croce sull'Arno, in the province of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. Serving a population of over 1.1 million, it is one of the largest treatment facilities in the region, handling municipal wastewater from a densely populated area. As a plant serving more than 100,000 people, IDI_AQUARNO falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires tertiary treatment for discharges into sensitive areas. Tuscany's coastal and riverine environments are often designated as sensitive, necessitating nutrient removal to protect water quality. The plant's treatment processes are designed to meet these stringent standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the Arno River basin, which flows through Florence and Pisa before reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Arno River is ecologically significant, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as a vital water resource for agriculture and industry. Proper treatment at IDI_AQUARNO helps reduce nutrient loading and protect the downstream marine environment.
Environmental context
IDI_AQUARNO discharges into the Arno River, which flows through Tuscany and empties into the Tyrrhenian Sea near Pisa. The Arno basin supports a variety of aquatic species and is an important corridor for migratory fish. The downstream coastal area includes ecologically sensitive habitats that benefit from reduced nutrient and pollutant loads from advanced wastewater treatment.
Frequently asked questions
IDI_AQUARNO is located in Santa Croce sull'Arno, in the province of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy.
IDI_AQUARNO serves a population of over 1.1 million people, making it a large agglomeration under EU regulations.
The treated wastewater from IDI_AQUARNO is discharged into the Arno River basin, which flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea.
As a large Italian plant, IDI_AQUARNO operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires tertiary treatment for sensitive areas like the Arno basin.
Plants of this scale in Italy typically employ advanced biological treatment with nutrient removal (tertiary treatment) to meet EU standards for sensitive water bodies.
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