Cerchiara di Calabria Piana Cerchiara Wastewater Treatment Plant, Verbicaro, Calabria

The Cerchiara di Calabria Piana Cerchiara wastewater treatment plant is located in Verbicaro, a municipality in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a population of 1,295 and is situated near the Tyrrhenian Sea coast, within 10 kilometers of the shoreline. 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. The designed capacity is 3,000 cubic meters per day, with an actual discharge volume of 256.36 cubic meters per day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The coastal environment supports diverse marine life and is an important area for regional biodiversity. The plant's advanced treatment helps protect the receiving waters from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into the local watershed that flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea, a part of the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal waters near Verbicaro support diverse marine ecosystems, including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries. Advanced treatment at the plant reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication and protect the ecological health of the coastal zone.