Overview
VASSILIKI wastewater treatment plant serves the Apollonion area in Lefkada, Greece, with advanced treatment for a population of 2,047. It discharges 694.10 m³/day and is located near the coast.
VASSILIKI is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Apollonion municipal unit on the island of Lefkada, in the Ionian Islands region of Greece. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,047 residents and is situated near the coast, reflecting the island's tourism-driven seasonal population fluctuations. As part of Greece's wastewater infrastructure, it plays a key role in protecting the surrounding marine environment. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 5,000 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 694.10 m³/day, the facility has significant spare capacity, indicating it can accommodate future growth or seasonal peaks. The advanced treatment level ensures high-quality effluent suitable for discharge into sensitive coastal areas. The treated effluent is discharged into the Ionian Sea, a ecologically important marine region known for its biodiversity and tourism value. The plant's coastal location necessitates stringent treatment to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect local marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and fish spawning grounds. By operating under Greek and EU regulations, VASSILIKI contributes to the preservation of Lefkada's coastal water quality and supports the island's environmental sustainability.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the Ionian Sea, a deep marine basin connected to the Adriatic Sea and ultimately the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal waters around Lefkada support diverse marine life, including Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows, which are critical for carbon sequestration and nursery habitats. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient inputs that could cause eutrophication in these sensitive coastal ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
VASSILIKI is located in the Apollonion municipal unit on the island of Lefkada, in the Ionian Islands region of Greece. Its address is Vasilikis - Akrotiriou Lefkata, K. Athaniou, Apollonion, Lefkada.
The plant serves a population of approximately 2,047 residents. This number may increase during the tourist season due to the island's popularity as a summer destination.
The plant uses advanced treatment processes to produce high-quality effluent, which is then discharged into the Ionian Sea. The coastal discharge is managed to minimize environmental impact on the marine ecosystem.
As a Greek facility, VASSILIKI operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 population equivalent. The plant's advanced treatment exceeds this standard, reflecting its sensitive coastal location.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, agglomerations between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent generally require secondary treatment. However, plants in sensitive coastal areas like Lefkada often implement advanced treatment to further reduce nutrients and protect marine habitats.
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