SOMMARIVA DEL BOSCO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sommariva del Bosco, Piemonte

The SOMMARIVA DEL BOSCO wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Sommariva del Bosco, in the province of Cuneo, Piemonte, Italy. The facility serves a population of approximately 4,400 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. As a plant in Italy, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater. The directive also mandates appropriate treatment to protect the receiving environment. The plant discharges into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Po River basin, one of Italy's most significant watersheds. The Po River flows eastward into the Adriatic Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and agricultural activities along its course.

The plant's treated effluent enters local streams that feed into the Po River basin. The Po River is the longest river in Italy, flowing through the Po Valley to the Adriatic Sea. This watershed supports extensive agriculture and diverse aquatic life, including fish species such as the European eel and barbel. Proper wastewater treatment is essential to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect downstream ecosystems.