Porto Rotondo Centro2 Olbia Wastewater Treatment Plant, Olbia, Sardinia

Porto Rotondo Centro2 Olbia is a wastewater treatment facility located in the Porto Rotondo area of Olbia, in the Gallura region of northeastern Sardinia, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 5,000 people, primarily from the tourist-oriented coastal settlement. It is situated within 10 kilometers of the coast, reflecting the area's reliance on marine and coastal ecosystems. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters. The plant has a designed capacity of 5,000 cubic meters per day and reports a discharge volume of 989.82 cubic meters per day, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into the coastal waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean Sea. The surrounding area is ecologically sensitive, supporting seagrass meadows and diverse marine life. The plant's advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the coastal environment from eutrophication, which is a key concern in Mediterranean tourist regions.

The plant discharges into the Tyrrhenian Sea, a basin of the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal waters near Porto Rotondo support Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, which are critical for biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Advanced treatment reduces nitrogen and phosphorus inputs, helping to prevent algal blooms and maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive marine environment.