ORGOSOLO_LOC_COMBIDANOVO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Orgòsolo, Sardinia

ORGOSOLO_LOC_COMBIDANOVO is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Orgòsolo/Orgosolo, in the province of Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,628 and has a designed capacity of 5,000 m³/day, with a current discharge volume of 916.18 m³/day. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. As a facility in Italy, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires advanced treatment for discharges into sensitive areas. For a plant of this scale (serving fewer than 10,000 people), secondary treatment is typically mandated, but the advanced level indicates a higher environmental standard. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Sardinia's Mediterranean climate and the island's unique ecosystems make proper wastewater treatment crucial for protecting coastal water quality and marine life. The plant's advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and supports the ecological health of the receiving waters.

The plant discharges into the local watershed of central Sardinia, which flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Tyrrhenian Sea is a semi-enclosed basin with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. The region supports diverse marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and coral formations, which benefit from the advanced treatment reducing nitrogen and phosphorus loads. The plant's location more than 10 km inland but within 50 km of the coast means its discharge contributes to the overall health of the coastal marine environment.