GORGOGLIONE_FORNACE_S_CATERINA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Gorgoglione, Basilicata

GORGOGLIONE_FORNACE_S_CATERINA is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Santo Felice area of Gorgoglione, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. The plant serves a small community of approximately 1,328 people, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for this inland town. 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 between 2,000 and 10,000. With a designed capacity of 2,000 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 262.90 m³/day, the facility operates well within its capacity, indicating effective treatment for the current load. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Ionian Sea via the Basento River or other nearby rivers. The plant's location in the Basilicata region, characterized by mountainous terrain and agricultural land, means its discharge supports local water quality and downstream ecosystems, including the Gulf of Taranto.

The plant discharges into the local watershed, which is part of the Basento River basin. The Basento River flows eastward through Basilicata and empties into the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is an important fishing ground. The secondary treatment provided by the plant helps reduce organic pollutants and nutrients, protecting the river and downstream marine environment from eutrophication and other ecological impacts.