IDL_BARGI Wastewater Treatment Plant, Bargi, Pistoia, Tuscany

IDL_BARGI is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Bargi, a locality within the municipality of Pistoia in the Tuscany region of Italy. The plant serves a population equivalent of 2,615, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. It is situated inland, away from coastal areas, and its operations are part of the regional water management infrastructure for the Ombrone Pistoiese basin. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 2,600 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 517.68 m³/day, indicating operational headroom. As an Italian facility, it operates under the national implementation of the directive, overseen by regional environmental agencies (ARPA Toscana) and local water authorities. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that ultimately feed into the Ombrone Pistoiese River, a tributary of the Arno River. The Arno flows through Florence and Pisa before reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant plays a role in protecting the water quality of this river system, which supports diverse aquatic life and is used for irrigation and recreation in the region.

The plant discharges into the Ombrone Pistoiese basin, which drains into the Arno River and then the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Arno watershed is ecologically significant, supporting fish species such as barbel and chub, and is subject to nutrient management concerns due to agricultural runoff. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic load and protect downstream water quality in this sensitive Mediterranean river system.