Montereale Via D Chiesa Wastewater Treatment Plant, Malnisio, Italy

Montereale Via D Chiesa is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Malnisio, a frazione of Montereale Valcellina in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of northeastern Italy. The plant serves a small population of approximately 1,500 residents and is designed to handle up to 3,000 cubic meters of wastewater per day, indicating spare capacity for future growth or seasonal variations. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. This level of treatment is typically implemented in sensitive areas to reduce nutrient loads and protect receiving water bodies. The plant's discharge volume is reported at 296.55 cubic meters per day, well within its design capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Cellina River, a tributary of the Meduna River, which eventually flows into the Livenza River and then the Adriatic Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the downstream aquatic ecosystems, including the karst springs and wetlands of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, which support diverse flora and fauna.

The plant discharges into the Cellina River basin, which flows through the Valcellina valley and joins the Meduna River. These waters ultimately reach the Livenza River and the northern Adriatic Sea. The region is characterized by karst topography and sensitive freshwater ecosystems that require protection from nutrient pollution. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nitrogen and phosphorus loads, safeguarding downstream habitats that support fish species such as trout and migratory birds.