STURLA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Genova, Liguria, Italy

STURLA is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Boccadasse district of Genova, in the Liguria region of Italy. The plant serves a population equivalent of 60,000 and has a designed capacity of 1.00, indicating it is a medium-sized facility for the area. As part of Genova's municipal infrastructure, it plays a key role in managing wastewater from the eastern part of the city. The plant operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this scale (60,000 PE), the directive requires at least secondary treatment, with more stringent requirements if the discharge is into sensitive areas. Given its coastal proximity, the plant likely meets advanced treatment standards to protect marine waters. The treated effluent is discharged into the Ligurian Sea, a basin of the Mediterranean Sea. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is important for tourism and recreation. The plant's operation helps reduce nutrient and pollutant loads, safeguarding water quality in the Gulf of Genoa and the broader Mediterranean ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the Ligurian Sea, part of the Mediterranean Sea, which is a semi-enclosed basin with limited water exchange. The coastal waters near Genova support seagrass meadows and diverse fish populations, making nutrient and pathogen control critical. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast underscores the need for effective treatment to prevent eutrophication and protect bathing water quality.