IMPIANTO C DA IMPERIO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lapide Pasteria, Sicily

IMPIANTO C DA IMPERIO is a wastewater treatment facility located near Lapide Pasteria in the municipality of Calatabiano, within the province of Catania, Sicily, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,082 people and is situated in a coastal area, less than 10 kilometers from the Ionian Sea. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 7,000 cubic meters per day, and the current discharge volume is 610.13 cubic meters per day, indicating operational capacity well below design limits. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment, ultimately reaching the Ionian Sea. This coastal discharge contributes to the nutrient load in the marine ecosystem, which supports diverse aquatic life and is an important area for fisheries and tourism in eastern Sicily.

The plant discharges treated wastewater into the Ionian Sea via local drainage channels. The Ionian Sea is a deep marine basin that supports diverse marine life, including important fish stocks and migratory species. The coastal waters near Catania are influenced by agricultural runoff and urban discharges, making nutrient management critical for preventing eutrophication and protecting seagrass meadows and coral habitats.