STRADA38 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cerchio, Italy

STRADA38 is a wastewater treatment plant located in Cerchio, a town in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy. The plant serves a population equivalent of 700 and has a designed capacity of 1,000 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 138.58 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment facility, STRADA38 provides biological treatment to remove organic matter and suspended solids. In Italy, wastewater treatment plants are regulated under national legislation that implements the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For small agglomerations like Cerchio (under 2,000 population equivalent), secondary treatment is the standard requirement, ensuring compliance with European environmental standards. The treated effluent from STRADA38 is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Aterno-Pescara river system. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the water quality of the surrounding environment, including the nearby Fucino basin, an important agricultural area. By reducing pollutant loads, the plant helps maintain the ecological health of the region's surface waters.

STRADA38 discharges into the local watershed that feeds into the Aterno-Pescara river system, which flows eastward to the Adriatic Sea. The receiving water bodies support diverse aquatic life and are part of a region known for its agricultural activity. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loading, protecting downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and maintaining water quality for both ecological and human uses.