Francavilla Angitola S. Martino Wastewater Treatment Plant, Calabria, Italy

The Francavilla Angitola S. Martino wastewater treatment plant is located in Francavilla Angitola, a town in the province of Vibo Valentia, Calabria, Italy. This facility serves a small population of 715 residents and is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, ensuring a high level of effluent quality. With a design capacity of 1500 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of 141.55 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well below its capacity. As an Italian facility, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates appropriate treatment levels for agglomerations based on population size and receiving water sensitivity. The plant is situated within 10 km of the coast, indicating that treated effluent likely discharges into a coastal water body or a river that flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea. This proximity to sensitive marine environments underscores the importance of the advanced treatment level in protecting coastal water quality and supporting local ecosystems.

The plant's location near the Tyrrhenian Sea coast means its treated effluent ultimately reaches the Mediterranean Sea. The local watershed includes small rivers and streams that drain the Calabrian Apennines, supporting diverse aquatic life and providing important habitat for migratory species. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting coastal waters from eutrophication and maintaining ecological balance.