PAGLIARA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Borgorose, Lazio, Italy

PAGLIARA is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Collemaggiore area of Pagliara, within the municipality of Borgorose, in the Lazio region of Italy. The plant serves a small population of approximately 550 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or small-town setting. It operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for treatment based on agglomeration size and receiving water sensitivity. The plant provides advanced treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment typically required for small agglomerations under the EU directive. This suggests that the receiving environment may be sensitive, or that local regulations impose higher standards. The designed capacity is 800 m³/day, and the current discharge volume is 108.88 m³/day, indicating ample capacity for future growth or seasonal variations. Treated wastewater from PAGLIARA is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Liri-Garigliano river system. The area is characterized by mountainous terrain and is part of the Apennine region, supporting diverse aquatic life and contributing to the ecological health of downstream water bodies. The advanced treatment helps protect local streams and the broader river basin from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into the Liri-Garigliano river basin, which flows through central Italy and empties into the Tyrrhenian Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as trout and eels. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality in a region that is ecologically sensitive due to its karst geology and groundwater interactions.