VICOFORTE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Vicoforte, Piemonte, Italy

The VICOFORTE wastewater treatment plant is located in Vicoforte, a town in the province of Cuneo, Piemonte, Italy. The facility serves a population equivalent of 2,550, placing it in the small agglomeration category under EU regulations. As a small-scale plant in Italy, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires appropriate treatment for discharges into freshwater or estuarine areas. Plants of this size typically employ secondary biological treatment to meet effluent quality standards. The plant discharges into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Po River basin. The Po River flows eastward through northern Italy and empties into the Adriatic Sea. The surrounding region is characterized by agricultural and rural landscapes, and the plant plays a role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems.

The VICOFORTE plant discharges into the Po River basin, which flows through Piemonte and across northern Italy to the Adriatic Sea. The Po River supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical water resource for agriculture and industry. The plant's treatment helps maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive watershed, reducing nutrient and pollutant loads that could otherwise impact downstream habitats and the Adriatic coastal zone.