SANFRE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sanfrè, Piemonte, Italy

SANFRE is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Sanfrè, a town in the province of Cuneo, Piemonte, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,683 and has a designed capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 503.27 cubic meters per day. It 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 plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. For small agglomerations like Sanfrè, secondary treatment is sufficient to meet EU standards, unless the receiving water body is designated as a sensitive area requiring more advanced treatment. The plant's discharge volume is well within its designed capacity, indicating operational stability. The treated effluent from SANFRE eventually flows into the Po River basin, which drains into the Adriatic Sea. The Po River is Italy's longest river and supports a rich ecosystem, including migratory fish species and diverse aquatic life. Proper treatment at plants like SANFRE helps protect water quality in this ecologically significant basin.

SANFRE discharges treated wastewater into local streams that are part of the Po River basin. The Po River flows eastward through northern Italy and empties into the Adriatic Sea. This basin supports extensive agriculture and is home to diverse aquatic species, including the European eel and various freshwater fish. Maintaining secondary treatment standards helps reduce nutrient loading and protects downstream water quality in the Po Delta and Adriatic coastal zone.