Palmarola Casal del Marmo Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rome, Lazio

Palmarola Casal del Marmo is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Casal del Marmo district of Rome, in the Lazio region of Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 11,000 residents, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under EU classification. It is situated in the urban periphery of Rome, an area characterized by mixed residential and light industrial land use. As a plant serving over 10,000 people, Palmarola Casal del Marmo is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard. The directive also mandates more advanced treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's compliance with the directive ensures a baseline level of pollutant removal before discharge. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local drainage network, which ultimately flows into the Tiber River basin. The Tiber River is the third-longest river in Italy and flows through Rome before emptying into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The downstream environment includes the Tiber Delta, a ecologically significant area that supports diverse aquatic life and migratory bird species. Proper treatment at this plant helps protect both the river and the coastal marine ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the Tiber River basin, which flows through Rome and into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Tiber Delta is an ecologically sensitive area supporting diverse aquatic life and migratory birds. Effective wastewater treatment is crucial to prevent nutrient pollution and protect the marine environment downstream.