TONARA_LOC_CHILISSARI Wastewater Treatment Plant, Tonara, Sardinia

TONARA_LOC_CHILISSARI is an advanced wastewater treatment facility located in Tonara, a town in the province of Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy. The plant serves a population of about 2,500 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this inland community. As part of Italy's wastewater infrastructure, it contributes to the protection of local water resources in the Sardinian interior. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. This level of treatment is typical for facilities in sensitive areas under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires tertiary treatment for discharges into sensitive catchments. The plant's designed capacity is 2,500 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of approximately 495 cubic meters per day, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Flumendosa River system. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect downstream ecosystems, including the Flumendosa basin, which supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional water supply and agriculture. By maintaining high treatment standards, the facility safeguards water quality in this ecologically sensitive Mediterranean island environment.

The plant discharges into the Flumendosa River basin, which flows through central Sardinia and empties into the Tyrrhenian Sea near the Gulf of Orosei. This watershed supports diverse aquatic habitats and is a critical water source for irrigation and drinking water in the region. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading, protecting downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and preserving water quality for sensitive species.