CARERI_NATILE_VECCHIO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mammola, Calabria, Italy

CARERI_NATILE_VECCHIO is a wastewater treatment plant located in Aspalmo Feudo, Mammola, in the province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria, Italy. It serves a small population of 545 people and has a designed capacity of 500 cubic meters per day. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent of less than 2,000 in non-sensitive areas. The plant operates within the regulatory framework of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which sets minimum treatment standards based on the size of the agglomeration and the sensitivity of the receiving waters. For a plant of this scale, secondary treatment is typically sufficient to meet the directive's requirements, ensuring that organic matter and suspended solids are significantly reduced 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 that the discharge may affect coastal water quality. The region's aquatic ecosystems, including streams and coastal habitats, rely on proper treatment to minimize nutrient loading and protect biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the local watershed that flows to the Ionian Sea, a part of the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal waters near Mammola support diverse marine life and are important for local fisheries and tourism. Effective secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollutants and nutrients, mitigating the risk of eutrophication and protecting the ecological health of the downstream marine environment.