Ozzano dell'Emilia Ponte Rizzoli Wastewater Treatment Plant, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

The Ozzano dell'Emilia Ponte Rizzoli wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Ozzano dell'Emilia, within the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. The plant serves a population of about 4,960 residents, making it a small-scale facility under the EU classification for agglomerations. It is situated near the Idice River, a tributary of the Reno River, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. As a plant serving fewer than 10,000 people, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires appropriate treatment based on the sensitivity of the receiving waters. For small agglomerations, secondary treatment is typically mandated unless the discharge is into a less sensitive area. It likely includes mechanical and biological stages to meet regulatory standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the Idice River, which flows into the Reno River and eventually reaches the Adriatic Sea. This water body supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the Po River basin, a major ecological and agricultural region. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and the downstream marine environment from nutrient pollution.

The plant discharges into the Idice River, a tributary of the Reno River, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. The Reno River basin supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is important for agriculture and biodiversity. The Adriatic Sea is a semi-enclosed sea with sensitive marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and fish spawning grounds, making nutrient removal crucial to prevent eutrophication.