PESCOCANE_ALTO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pescocanale, Italy

PESCOCANALE_ALTO is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Pescocanale, a frazione of Capistrello in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. The plant serves a small population of 253 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or small community setting. It operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets treatment standards based on population equivalents and receiving water sensitivity. The plant provides secondary treatment, which typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 500 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 50.09 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variations. As a small agglomeration (under 2,000 PE), the EU directive requires appropriate treatment, and secondary treatment meets the standard for inland freshwater discharges. The treated effluent is discharged into a local watercourse that eventually flows into the Liri River, part of the Liri-Garigliano basin, which drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant's location inland, away from coastal areas, reduces direct marine impact. The surrounding watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is part of the Apennine mountain ecosystem, where water quality is important for both ecological health and downstream uses.

The plant discharges into a local stream that feeds into the Liri River, which flows through the Liri Valley and joins the Garigliano River before reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats and is part of a region known for its natural springs and biodiversity. The secondary treatment provided helps protect the receiving water body from organic pollution, maintaining ecological balance in the Apennine freshwater ecosystem.