IDL_MONTALE_EST Wastewater Treatment Plant, Montale, Tuscany, Italy

IDL_MONTALE_EST is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Montale, a town in the province of Pistoia, Tuscany, Italy. The facility serves a population of approximately 4,156 residents and operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The plant has a designed capacity of 3,500 cubic meters per day and currently handles an average daily flow of about 823 cubic meters, indicating it operates well below its maximum capacity. As a secondary treatment plant, it uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The facility is part of Italy's national wastewater infrastructure, regulated under the EU directive and local environmental agencies. The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that eventually flow into the Arno River, one of Italy's major rivers. The Arno River traverses Tuscany and empties into the Tyrrhenian Sea near Pisa. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Arno basin from untreated sewage, supporting water quality for downstream communities and ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Arno River basin, which drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Arno River supports diverse aquatic life and is an important water resource for Tuscany. Downstream areas include agricultural lands and urban centers, making nutrient and pathogen removal critical to prevent eutrophication and protect recreational uses.