MEDICINA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Medicina, Emilia-Romagna

The MEDICINA wastewater treatment plant is located in Medicina, a town in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. The facility serves a population of about 12,149 residents, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. As a plant operating within the European Union, MEDICINA is subject to the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size, with more stringent tertiary treatment if the discharge enters a sensitive area. Compliance with the directive ensures a standard level of treatment. The treated effluent from the plant is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Adriatic Sea via the Po River basin. This downstream connection highlights the plant's role in protecting both regional waterways and the marine environment of the northern Adriatic, which supports diverse aquatic life and important fisheries.

The plant discharges into the Po River basin, which flows eastward through Emilia-Romagna and into the Adriatic Sea. The Po River delta is an ecologically sensitive area that supports diverse aquatic habitats and serves as a critical migratory corridor for bird species. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient loading and protect the water quality of this important downstream ecosystem.