ACRI_CUTA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Acri, Calabria, Italy

ACRI_CUTA is a wastewater treatment plant located in San Giacomo d'Acri, near the town of Acri in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a small population of 850 people and is situated in a hilly inland area, though it lies within 10 km of the coast. As a small-scale facility, it provides advanced treatment, ensuring high-quality effluent before discharge. The plant operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 1000 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 168.27 m³/day, the plant has ample capacity to handle current loads. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal, which is important for protecting sensitive receiving waters. The treated effluent likely drains into the Crati River basin or smaller coastal streams that flow into the Ionian Sea. The region's coastal waters support diverse marine life and are used for recreation and fishing. By providing advanced treatment, the plant helps reduce nutrient pollution and protects the ecological health of the downstream environment.

The plant discharges into local watercourses that ultimately reach the Ionian Sea, a basin supporting diverse marine ecosystems including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries. The area's coastal waters are sensitive to nutrient enrichment, making advanced treatment critical for preventing eutrophication. The plant's inland location, though near the coast, allows for natural attenuation in streams before reaching the sea.