Overview
IDL_PONTICELLI_SANTA_MARIA_A_MONTE is an advanced wastewater treatment plant in Santa Maria a Monte, Tuscany, Italy, serving a population of 1,005. It discharges 198.95 cubic meters of treated wastewater daily.
IDL_PONTICELLI_SANTA_MARIA_A MONTE is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Santa Maria a Monte, a municipality in the province of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. The plant serves a small population of approximately 1,005 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or peri-urban setting within the Arno River basin. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 2,500 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of 198.95 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well below its capacity. As an Italian facility, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment for sensitive areas; advanced treatment is typical for plants discharging into sensitive water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Arno River and then into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Arno basin's water quality, supporting aquatic ecosystems and downstream uses such as agriculture and recreation.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Arno River basin, which flows through Tuscany into the Tyrrhenian Sea near Pisa. The Arno is a major river supporting diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive due to agricultural runoff and urban pressures. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting downstream coastal waters from eutrophication.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Santa Maria a Monte, in the province of Pisa, Tuscany, Italy. Its address is Via Lungomonte, Sottili, Montecalvoli, Santa Maria a Monte.
The plant serves a population of 1,005 people, making it a small-scale facility typical of rural communities in Tuscany.
The treated wastewater is discharged into local watercourses that flow into the Arno River, which ultimately reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant uses advanced treatment to ensure high effluent quality.
As an Italian plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates advanced treatment for sensitive areas. Italy implements this through national regulations enforced by regional authorities.
For small agglomerations under 2,000 population equivalent, the EU directive requires appropriate treatment. In practice, many such plants in Italy use secondary or advanced treatment, especially if discharging into sensitive water bodies like the Arno basin.
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