CARERI_NATILE_NUOVO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Grotteria, Calabria, Italy

CARERI_NATILE_NUOVO is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Zappia area of Grotteria, in the province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a population of 1,745 and has a designed capacity of 2,000 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 345.45 cubic meters. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. As a small agglomeration, it meets the regulatory baseline for organic matter removal before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Ionian Sea. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can affect coastal water quality. The region's aquatic ecosystems support diverse marine life, and proper treatment helps protect these environments from nutrient pollution.

The plant discharges into a local watercourse that flows toward the Ionian Sea, a key Mediterranean basin. The coastal waters near Grotteria support diverse marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and fish nursery areas. Secondary treatment reduces organic load and suspended solids, helping to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality for recreational and ecological uses.