Cardinale Perara Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mammola, Calabria

Cardinale Perara is a wastewater treatment plant located in Mammola, in the province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,842 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. Its coastal location places it within 10 kilometers of the Ionian Sea, making proper treatment essential for protecting marine water quality. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 4,000 m³/day and a reported discharge volume of 562.62 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variability. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal, reducing the environmental impact on sensitive coastal waters. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Ionian Sea. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries and tourism. The advanced treatment level helps minimize nutrient loading and protects the ecological health of the receiving waters, which are part of the broader Mediterranean Sea ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the local drainage network that flows to the Ionian Sea, a key part of the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal waters in this region support diverse aquatic life, including fish and invertebrates, and are important for local fishing and tourism. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient and pollutant loads, helping to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality in this ecologically sensitive coastal environment.