001-45_127_NOV-DEC_LAYOUT_PT - Flipbook - Page 14
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
VICENZA, ITALY
ARZIGNANO WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION
LOCATED in the province of Vicenza, Italy, the Arzignano Wastewater
Treatment Plant is a critical piece of infrastructure, responsible for
treating wastewater in the Chiampo Valley’s leather production district.
The facility spans about 155,000 square metres, treating 30,000 cubic
metres of industrial wastewater and 15,000 cubic metres of municipal
wastewater each day. It serves seven municipalities, around 130 major
tanneries, and has a treatment capacity equivalent to approximately 1.6
million people.
The facility was commissioned in 1978 and has undergone several
upgrades since then. It needed upgrades to keep pace with increasing
hydraulic and organic loads, but also to improve treatment of complex
pollutants, reduce environmental impacts, minimize odor, and prepare for
more stringent wastewater regulations.
Since 2015, Stantec has contributed to the design and implementation
of several key interventions. The firm has designed new core sections of the
facility to strengthen treatment capacity, including a new industrial biological oxidation tank, a municipal effluent reuse facility, an advanced ozone
oxidation unit, an expansion to the municipal treatment line, and more.
In 2024, Acque del Chiampo tapped Stantec to support a major
expansion of the wastewater treatment plant. The project was supported
by public funding from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, aimed
at contributing to the modernization of the area’s water resource management system. It involved the design of new municipal sedimentation tanks
to increase operational flexibility, reliability, and overall treatment quality.
Acque del Chiampo’s upgrading strategy centers on three key priorities:
strengthening biological treatment, advancing tertiary treatment, and
improving overall environmental performance. They championed innovation and embraced new forms of technology, such as automated control
systems, advanced sensors, and energy-efficiency measures to optimize
processes.
One of the most innovative interventions was the new ozone oxidation
unit, supported by public funding from Italy’s Ministry of Environment and
Energy Security. It enables a significant improvement in the removal of
chromium and colour, micropollutants, and bio refractory organic fractions.
It also contributes to the final disinfection. At the same time, the recovery
of oxygen from process gases for the biological oxidation section and
the reuse of treated domestic wastewater as process water for the plant
enhance the overall energy and water efficiency.
The Arzignano Wastewater Treatment Plant serves as a strong international example for applying innovative technologies to treat industrial
wastewater. The plant even received the ARICA Consortium’s Gold Seal,
which recognizes the ability to maintain excellent standards for five consecutive years without exceeding regulatory limits.
The plant’s expansion can offer meaningful insights for replicating
advanced technological solutions in industrial districts around the world
facing similar efficiency and environmental challenges.
STANTEC
14—RENEW CANADA – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2026
