CARAPELLE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Orta Nova, Puglia, Italy

The CARAPELLE wastewater treatment plant is located in Orta Nova, in the province of Foggia, Puglia, Italy. It serves a population of 6,644, classifying it as a small to medium agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for inland freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. As a secondary treatment facility, CARAPELLE uses biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. Secondary treatment typically involves activated sludge or similar biological systems. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into a local water body, likely a tributary of the Ofanto River or directly into the Adriatic Sea via the coastal plain. The region's drainage ultimately reaches the Adriatic Sea, supporting diverse aquatic life and coastal ecosystems. The plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and public health.

The CARAPELLE plant discharges into the local drainage network in the Puglia region, which flows toward the Adriatic Sea. The receiving water body is part of the Ofanto River basin or a coastal stream, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Manfredonia. This area supports important coastal and marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and fish nursery grounds. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, mitigating eutrophication risks in the sensitive Adriatic coastal zone.