IDL_VICOPISANO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Vicopisano, Toscana

IDL_VICOPISANO is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Vicopisano, a town in the Toscana region of Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,980 people, placing it in the small agglomeration category under Italian and EU regulations. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 1,300 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is approximately 590 m³/day, indicating operational headroom. As a secondary treatment facility, it removes organic matter and suspended solids, ensuring compliance with EU effluent quality standards before discharge. The treated effluent enters the local hydrological network, which flows through the Arno River basin and eventually reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea near Pisa. This coastal discharge point is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse marine life and contributing to the overall health of the Mediterranean coastal ecosystem. The plant plays a key role in protecting the Arno River and downstream waters from untreated pollution.

The plant discharges into the Arno River basin, which flows through Toscana and empties into the Tyrrhenian Sea near Pisa. This coastal area supports important marine habitats and is a migratory corridor for fish species. The secondary treatment provided helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, safeguarding water quality in the river and the downstream marine environment.