ROWP Primarie Lapusata Wastewater Treatment Plant, Zărnești, Vâlcea County

ROWP Primarie Lapusata is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Zărnești, a locality within Lăpușata commune, Vâlcea County, Romania. The plant serves a small population of 297 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or small community setting. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment stage required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000. Although the plant's population served is below this threshold, secondary treatment ensures a high level of organic matter and suspended solids removal, protecting local water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Olt River basin and then to the Danube River. The Danube carries the water to the Black Sea, making the plant's performance important for downstream ecosystems. The plant's inland location and small scale reduce its direct impact on marine environments.

The plant discharges into the Olt River basin, a tributary of the Danube River. The Danube flows into the Black Sea, a semi-enclosed sea with sensitive ecological conditions. The Olt River supports diverse aquatic life and is used for irrigation and recreation. Proper treatment at this plant helps prevent nutrient loading and organic pollution in the downstream water bodies.