San Giovanni in Persiceto Via Centese Wastewater Treatment Plant, Emilia-Romagna

The San Giovanni in Persiceto Via Centese wastewater treatment plant is located in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, serving the town of San Giovanni in Persiceto. This facility is part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the Unione Terre d'Acqua area, treating domestic wastewater from a population of about 4,326 residents. As a small agglomeration under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), the plant is expected to provide at least secondary treatment to meet the directive's standards for inland freshwater discharges. The directive requires appropriate treatment for all agglomerations above 2,000 population equivalent, with secondary treatment being the baseline for those above 2,000 PE. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Po River basin, one of Italy's most significant hydrological systems. The Po River flows eastward into the Adriatic Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and agricultural irrigation along its course. Proper treatment at this facility helps protect the regional water quality and the sensitive delta environment.

The plant discharges into the local drainage network within the Po River basin, which flows through the Po Valley into the Adriatic Sea. This region supports intensive agriculture and is ecologically important for migratory birds and aquatic life. The Po Delta is a sensitive ecosystem that benefits from effective wastewater treatment upstream.