Casalvecchio di Puglia Wastewater Treatment Plant | Secondary Treatment in Puglia

The Casalvecchio di Puglia wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Casalvecchio di Puglia, in the province of Foggia, Puglia, Italy. It serves a population of approximately 2,252 residents, making it a small-scale municipal facility. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). As a secondary treatment plant, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant has a designed capacity of 2,187 m³/day and currently treats an average of 467 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. For small agglomerations like this, the EU directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum standard, which the plant meets. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Adriatic Sea via the Fortore River basin. The surrounding area is predominantly agricultural, and the plant plays a key role in protecting local water quality and downstream ecosystems. Proper treatment helps prevent nutrient pollution and supports the ecological health of the region's rivers and coastal waters.

The plant discharges into the Fortore River basin, which flows into the Adriatic Sea. The downstream environment includes agricultural lands and sensitive coastal habitats. Effective secondary treatment reduces organic load and nutrients, helping to prevent eutrophication in the Adriatic and supporting biodiversity in the riverine and marine ecosystems.