Hygienic sustainability of site location of wastewater treatment plants

A quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of Taranto (Apulia Region, S. Italy) wastewater treatment plant has been carried out in order to assess the potential health effects on the population living in the neighbourhood. Cryptosporidium (protozoan), Campylobacter (bacterium) and Rotavirus (virus) were considered using GIADA, a hybrid plume dispersed model proposed by the Italian Environmental Protection Agency, for estimating air concentration of pathogens. Based on this study, local setback distance from the plant (300 m) appears generally adequate to minimize health risks for nearby residents.