CDA_FOGGIA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Salemi, Sicily

CDA_FOGGIA is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located near Salemi in the province of Trapani, Sicily, Italy. The facility serves a population of approximately 4,746 people and is situated along the Palermo-Mazara del Vallo highway. It operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets treatment standards based on population equivalents and receiving water sensitivity. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 4,800 m³/day and a discharge volume of about 940 m³/day, the facility operates well within its capacity. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is typically sufficient unless the receiving water body is designated as sensitive. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain toward the Mediterranean Sea. Sicily's inland waters and coastal zones support diverse aquatic ecosystems, including fish and migratory bird species. The plant's location more than 10 km from the coast reduces direct marine impact, though its discharge ultimately reaches the sea via rivers or streams.

The plant discharges into inland watercourses that flow toward the Mediterranean Sea, specifically the Strait of Sicily. This region supports important marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and nursery areas for fish. The local watershed is characterized by Mediterranean climate with seasonal rainfall, making water quality management critical for downstream ecosystems and coastal tourism.