SALORNO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ulten - Ultimo, Italy

The SALORNO wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of Ulten - Ultimo, within the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region of northern Italy. Serving a population of 4,761, the plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The plant's designed capacity is 4,500 m³/day, and it currently discharges an average of 942.51 m³/day of treated effluent. As an Italian facility, SALORNO operates under the national implementation of the EU UWWTD, which mandates secondary treatment for inland plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalents. The plant's treatment process meets this requirement, ensuring that organic matter and suspended solids are substantially reduced before discharge. The plant is not located near the coast, reducing direct marine impact. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Adige River, one of Italy's major rivers. The Adige flows south through the Veneto region before entering the Adriatic Sea near Chioggia. The plant's operation helps protect the water quality of the Adige basin, supporting aquatic life and downstream uses such as irrigation and recreation.

The SALORNO plant discharges into the Adige River basin, which flows through the Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto regions before reaching the Adriatic Sea. The Adige is a significant Alpine river that supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish species such as brown trout and grayling. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads and organic pollution, contributing to the ecological health of the river and its downstream environments.