LONGARE_PONTE COSTOZZA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Costozza, Veneto

LONGARE_PONTE_COSTOZZA is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Costozza, a frazione of Longare in the Veneto region of Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,154 people and is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the Vicenza area. It operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for treatment based on population equivalents and receiving water sensitivity. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. Its designed capacity is 5,400 cubic meters per day, and it currently discharges an average of 822.34 cubic meters per day. This indicates a utilization rate well below capacity, allowing for future growth or seasonal variations. The plant's advanced treatment level is appropriate for its scale and helps protect local water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Adriatic Sea via the Brenta River or Bacchiglione River systems. The Veneto region is characterized by a dense network of rivers and canals, and the plant plays a key role in safeguarding the ecological health of these water bodies. Downstream environments include agricultural areas and the Venice Lagoon, a sensitive ecosystem that benefits from nutrient removal at upstream plants.

The plant discharges into the local hydrographic network of the Veneto plain, which ultimately drains into the Adriatic Sea via the Brenta and Bacchiglione river systems. These rivers support diverse aquatic life and are important for irrigation and recreation. The advanced treatment level helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting downstream ecosystems including the Venice Lagoon, a shallow coastal lagoon that is sensitive to eutrophication from excess nitrogen and phosphorus.