IMPIANTO C DA BASTONELLA ACQUACALDA - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Caltavuturo, Sicily

IMPIANTO C DA BASTONELLA ACQUACALDA is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Caltavuturo, a town in the province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,616 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, within the Madonie mountain region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for discharges into freshwater bodies. With a designed capacity of 6,000 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 913.80 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Imera Settentrionale river basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's water quality, supporting both local ecosystems and downstream coastal waters. The Madonie area is ecologically sensitive, hosting diverse flora and fauna, and the plant's operation helps prevent nutrient pollution in the watershed.

The plant discharges into the Imera Settentrionale river basin, which flows northward into the Tyrrhenian Sea. This coastal watershed supports agricultural activities and natural habitats in the Madonie region. The area is ecologically sensitive, with Mediterranean scrub and riverine ecosystems that rely on good water quality. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic load and protect downstream aquatic life and coastal waters from eutrophication.