San Giovanni in Persiceto Decima Wastewater Treatment Plant, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

The San Giovanni in Persiceto Decima wastewater treatment plant is located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, serving the town of San Giovanni in Persiceto and the surrounding area. The plant is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure managed by the Unione Terre d'Acqua, a consortium of local authorities. With a population equivalent of around 5,754, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) category of small agglomerations, which requires appropriate treatment before discharge. As a small-scale facility, the plant is expected to provide secondary treatment or equivalent under Italian implementation of the EU directive. The plant operates within Italy's regulatory framework, which follows EU standards for wastewater treatment. Italian legislation (Decreto Legislativo 152/2006) transposes the EU directive and sets discharge limits based on the sensitivity of the receiving environment. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Po River basin, one of Italy's most important river systems. The Po River flows eastward into the Adriatic Sea, supporting diverse aquatic life and agricultural activities. The plant's operation contributes to protecting the water quality of the Po basin and the Adriatic coastal ecosystem.

The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Po River basin, the largest river system in Italy. The Po River flows through the Po Valley, a densely populated and agriculturally intensive region, before emptying into the Adriatic Sea. The downstream environment includes sensitive habitats such as the Po Delta, which supports diverse bird species and aquatic life. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect the ecological balance of this important watershed.