ROMANI_SRN_DEP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sarnano, Marche, Italy

ROMANI_SRN_DEP is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Romani area of Sarnano, in the Marche region of Italy. It serves a small population of 157 residents, reflecting its role as a local facility for a rural community. The plant operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets treatment standards based on agglomeration size and receiving water sensitivity. The plant provides primary treatment, which involves physical sedimentation to remove settleable solids. With a designed capacity of 250 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 31.08 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variability. For small agglomerations like this, the EU directive allows primary treatment as a minimum standard, provided the receiving waters are not designated as sensitive areas. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Adriatic Sea via the Potenza River basin. The Marche region features a hilly terrain with rivers flowing eastward to the Adriatic. The plant's discharge contributes to the local hydrological cycle and supports downstream aquatic ecosystems, though primary treatment provides limited nutrient removal compared to secondary or tertiary processes.

The plant discharges into the Potenza River basin, which flows eastward through the Marche region into the Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic Sea is a semi-enclosed basin with sensitive ecosystems, including seagrass meadows and fish nursery areas. Primary treatment alone may not adequately reduce nutrients, potentially contributing to eutrophication in coastal waters. The plant's small discharge volume, however, limits its local impact.