BAGNARA CALABRA CACILI Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ursini, Calabria

BAGNARA CALABRA CACILI is a wastewater treatment plant located in Ursini, within the municipality of Caulonia, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 11,776, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under Italian and EU regulatory frameworks. As an Italian plant, BAGNARA CALABRA CACILI operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. Italy implements this directive through national legislation, with regional environmental agencies overseeing compliance. The plant's location in Calabria, a region with significant coastal and mountainous terrain, influences its operational context. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Ionian Sea. This coastal discharge area supports diverse marine life and is part of the broader Mediterranean ecosystem. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 50 km) underscores the importance of effective treatment to protect coastal water quality and marine habitats.

The plant's treated effluent enters the local drainage network, which flows into the Ionian Sea near the Calabrian coast. This coastal zone supports diverse marine ecosystems, including seagrass meadows and fish spawning grounds. Effective wastewater treatment is critical to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect the ecological health of the Ionian Sea, which is part of the Mediterranean basin.