SIMAXIS_LOC_BENNAXI Wastewater Treatment Plant, Simaghis, Sardinia

SIMAXIS_LOC_BENNAXI is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Simaghis/Simaxis, in the province of Oristano, Sardinia, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,573 people and has a designed capacity of 4,600 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of 905.29 cubic meters per day. As an advanced treatment facility, it provides a higher level of pollutant removal than secondary treatment, which is typical for plants in sensitive areas under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The plant operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment for agglomerations of this size. For plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalents, secondary treatment is generally mandated, but advanced treatment may be required if the receiving waters are sensitive to eutrophication or nutrient pollution. The plant's advanced treatment status suggests it likely employs nutrient removal processes such as nitrogen and phosphorus reduction. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Mediterranean Sea. Sardinia's coastal environment is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse marine life and important seagrass meadows. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) underscores the importance of its advanced treatment in protecting coastal water quality and marine ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Tirso River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Oristano on the western coast of Sardinia. The Gulf of Oristano is part of the Mediterranean Sea and supports important coastal habitats, including wetlands and seagrass beds that serve as nursery grounds for fish and feeding areas for migratory birds. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in these sensitive coastal waters.