San Demetrio ne' Vestini Wastewater Treatment Plant, L'Aquila, Italy

The San Demetrio ne' Vestini wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of San Demetrio ne' Vestini, within the province of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The facility serves a population of approximately 2,050 residents and has a designed capacity of 2,500 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of 405.83 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Adriatic Sea via the Aterno-Pescara river system. The Abruzzo region is characterized by mountainous terrain and important groundwater resources, making proper wastewater treatment essential for protecting both surface waters and aquifers that support local ecosystems and agriculture.

The plant discharges into the Aterno River basin, which flows through the Apennine Mountains and eventually reaches the Adriatic Sea via the Pescara River. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is an important migratory corridor for fish species. The region's karst geology means that groundwater resources are particularly vulnerable to contamination, underscoring the importance of effective secondary treatment to protect downstream water quality and ecological health.