Villafranca Piemonte Wastewater Treatment Plant - Secondary Treatment in Piemonte, Italy

The Villafranca Piemonte wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Villafranca Piemonte, in the province of Turin, Piemonte region, Italy. It serves a population of approximately 4,318 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. It has a designed capacity of 5,000 m³/day and currently treats an average of 721 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity for future growth. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Po River basin, one of Italy's most important watersheds. The Po River flows eastward into the Adriatic Sea, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and agricultural irrigation along its course.

The plant discharges into the Po River basin, which drains the entire Piemonte region and flows into the Adriatic Sea. This watershed supports critical agricultural activities and provides habitat for fish species such as the European eel and barbel. The Po Delta is a ecologically sensitive area with extensive wetlands that rely on good water quality from upstream treatment plants.