IMPIANTO C DA PIANO COLOSI, Villafrati

Overview

IMPIANTO C DA PIANO COLOSI is a primary treatment plant serving Villafrati, Sicily, Italy. It handles a population equivalent of 3,900 and discharges treated wastewater near the coast.

IMPIANTO C DA PIANO COLOSI is a wastewater treatment plant located in Villafrati, a town in the province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,900 people and has a designed capacity of 4,200 cubic meters per day, with an average discharge volume of 772 cubic meters per day. As a primary treatment facility, the plant provides basic physical sedimentation to remove settleable solids. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size (3,900 PE) are generally required to have secondary treatment. However, primary treatment may be permitted for discharges to coastal waters if studies show no adverse environmental impact. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) suggests it likely discharges into marine waters. The treated effluent from the plant ultimately reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea, part of the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal waters near Villafrati support diverse marine life and are important for local fisheries and tourism. The plant's discharge contributes to the nutrient load in the coastal zone, which can affect water quality and marine ecosystems.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the Tyrrhenian Sea, a basin of the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal waters near Villafrati are ecologically sensitive, supporting seagrass meadows and diverse marine fauna. Nutrient inputs from primary-treated effluent can contribute to eutrophication risks in coastal areas, particularly during summer months when water circulation is limited.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located in Villafrati, in the province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy.

The plant serves a population equivalent of 3,900 people.

The plant provides primary treatment and discharges treated effluent into the Tyrrhenian Sea, as it is located within 10 km of the coast.

The plant operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations over 2,000 PE, though primary treatment may be allowed for coastal discharges if environmental impact is minimal.

In Italy, plants serving agglomerations of this size typically provide secondary treatment (biological) as per EU standards. However, primary treatment may be accepted for coastal discharges with appropriate monitoring.