LESA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Villa Lesa, Piemonte, Italy

LESA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Villa Lesa, a frazione of Lesa in the province of Novara, Piemonte, Italy. The plant serves a population equivalent of 16,450, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. Its location near Lake Maggiore places it in a sensitive area requiring advanced treatment. As an Italian plant serving over 10,000 people, LESA is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment as a minimum. For discharges into sensitive areas like Lake Maggiore, tertiary treatment (nutrient removal) is typically required to protect water quality. Regulatory compliance ensures appropriate standards. The plant's treated effluent likely discharges into Lake Maggiore, a major subalpine lake that drains via the Ticino River into the Po River and ultimately the Adriatic Sea. Lake Maggiore supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological and recreational resource. The plant plays a key role in protecting this sensitive water body from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

LESA discharges into the Lake Maggiore watershed, which flows through the Ticino River into the Po River and then the Adriatic Sea. Lake Maggiore is a deep subalpine lake with high ecological sensitivity, supporting diverse fish populations and migratory birds. Nutrient loading from wastewater can lead to eutrophication, so effective treatment is critical for maintaining water quality and ecosystem health.