Impianto C da Orto Principe Wastewater Treatment Plant, Buccheri, Sicily

Impianto C da Orto Principe is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Buccheri, a town in the province of Siracusa, Sicily, Italy. The plant serves a population of 2,264 and has a designed capacity of 3,700 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 448.19 cubic meters per day. As a primary treatment facility, the plant provides basic physical treatment to remove settleable solids. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000 are generally required to have secondary treatment. However, primary treatment may be acceptable in certain cases, such as discharges to less sensitive areas or where it is deemed sufficient to meet environmental objectives. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Ionian Sea. The region's Mediterranean climate and karstic terrain influence water availability and the sensitivity of receiving waters. The plant plays a role in protecting downstream ecosystems, including coastal habitats along the southeastern coast of Sicily.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow toward the Ionian Sea, a key marine ecosystem in the central Mediterranean. The watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for migratory species. The coastal zone near Siracusa includes seagrass meadows and rocky reefs that are sensitive to nutrient pollution, making effective treatment essential for maintaining water quality.