The project for the Garda treatment plant has recently undergone a significant evolution, with the selection of Esenta as the site for the facility, deemed the most advantageous solution in terms of cost savings. This decision, announced on Wednesday by the Ministry of the Environment, highlights a savings of 16 million euros compared to the initial costs projected for the treatment plants in Gavardo and Montichiari. Furthermore, annual operational expenses are expected to be reduced by approximately 3 million euros. Currently, the project has only 60 million of the 204 million needed to execute it according to the original estimates.
The option for the treatment plant at Esenta will ensure the treatment of wastewater from the Brescia side of Lake Garda and will discharge the treated effluent into the Chiese River. However, there are objections from mayors and environmental committees regarding this choice, calling for further studies on the ecological health of the river before implementation. The new technologies applied to the facility could also allow for the use of treated water in agriculture, thereby aligning with the directives of the new European regulation on urban discharges that promotes energy self-sufficiency and the recovery of treated water.
