IDL_RIO_LAMA Wastewater Treatment Plant, San Salvatore, Toscana, Italy

IDL_RIO_LAMA is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in San Salvatore, a locality within the municipality of Montecarlo in the province of Lucca, Toscana, Italy. The plant serves a small population of 394 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or peri-urban setting. It is situated inland, more than 10 kilometers from the coast, but within 50 kilometers of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 750 cubic meters per day and an actual discharge volume of 78 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating ample headroom for future growth or seasonal variations. As an Italian facility, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates advanced treatment for sensitive areas and secondary treatment for all discharges. For a plant of this small scale, the advanced treatment level suggests it may be located in a sensitive catchment area. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Arno River basin or smaller coastal streams. The region's aquatic ecosystems include rivers and wetlands that support diverse flora and fauna. By providing advanced treatment, the plant helps protect downstream water quality and contributes to the ecological health of the surrounding watershed.

The plant discharges into local watercourses that flow through the Lucca plain and eventually reach the Tyrrhenian Sea, likely via the Arno River or tributaries. The downstream environment includes agricultural areas and natural habitats that rely on clean water. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient loading, which helps prevent eutrophication in coastal waters and supports biodiversity in the region's rivers and wetlands.