SAN_VINCENZO_ACQ_DEP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Acquaviva Picena, Marche, Italy

SAN_VINCENZO_ACQ_DEP is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Acquaviva Picena, a town in the Marche region of central Italy. The facility serves a population of 1,699 and is situated near the Adriatic coast, within 10 km of the sea. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 1,500 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 380.08 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Adriatic Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the coastal marine environment from nutrient pollution and pathogens, supporting the ecological health of the Adriatic Sea and its sensitive coastal habitats.

The plant discharges into the local drainage network that flows to the Adriatic Sea, a semi-enclosed basin with limited water exchange. The Adriatic Sea supports diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries, and is ecologically sensitive to nutrient inputs. Secondary treatment reduces organic load and suspended solids, helping to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality in the coastal zone.