VIA LE PRATOLE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pico, Lazio, Italy

VIA LE PRATOLE is a wastewater treatment plant located in Pico, a town in the province of Frosinone, Lazio, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,950 people and has a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of 584 m³/day. It operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for collection and treatment of wastewater. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU directive for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies. The plant's capacity utilization is low, indicating it has room to accommodate future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Liri-Garigliano river system. The region's water bodies support diverse aquatic life and are important for agriculture and tourism. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protect downstream ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the Liri-Garigliano river basin, which flows through Lazio and Campania before reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea. The river system supports diverse aquatic habitats and is used for irrigation and recreation. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient pollution, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream coastal waters and protecting marine biodiversity.