Gruppo CAP releases 2,500 alborelle into Lombardy rivers

Gruppo CAP has completed the alBIOrelle project by raising 2,500 alborelle (silver bream) in the wastewater‑treatment plant at Canegrate. The fish were cultivated for ten months using only water from the plant’s ultrafiltration‑UV disinfection cycle, with temperature, oxygen, pH and nitrogen levels continuously monitored. Survival rates, regular growth and the attainment of release size demonstrated that the reclaimed water fully supports sensitive aquatic species.

The initiative, developed together with the Istituto Spallanzani and the Politecnico di Milano, turns the plant into a circular‑economy laboratory that links water‑treatment, scientific research and riverine restocking. The alborelle have now been released into several Lombardy rivers, showcasing the potential for wastewater facilities to generate environmental value beyond their traditional service role.