VERDEFIORE_APP_DEP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Appignano, Marche, Italy

VERDEFIORE_APP_DEP is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Appignano, in the Marche region of central Italy. The plant serves a population of 3,115 and has a designed capacity of 4,500 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 616.66 m³/day. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving agglomerations of this size are required to provide secondary treatment, and advanced treatment is mandated for sensitive areas. The Marche region includes sensitive areas along the Adriatic coast, so the advanced treatment level aligns with regional environmental requirements. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Adriatic Sea. The plant's location inland, more than 10 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact, but its discharge contributes to the overall water quality of rivers flowing into the Adriatic. The Marche region relies on healthy waterways for agriculture, tourism, and biodiversity, making effective wastewater treatment essential.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Adriatic Sea via the Potenza or Chienti river basins. The Adriatic Sea is a semi-enclosed basin with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. The Marche coastline supports diverse marine life and is important for fisheries and tourism. Advanced treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient loads, protecting coastal water quality and preventing eutrophication in the Adriatic.