Impianto C da Praia Wastewater Treatment Plant, Mercurio, Sicily

Impianto C da Praia is a wastewater treatment plant located in the hamlet of Potame, near Mercurio, in the municipality of Tortorici, Messina province, Sicily, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,700 people and has a designed capacity of 4,600 m³/day, with an average discharge volume of 732.47 m³/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 (3,700 p.e.) are generally required to provide secondary treatment. However, primary treatment may be permitted for discharges to coastal waters with adequate dispersion, subject to national implementation. The plant is located within 10 km of the Tyrrhenian Sea coast, to which its treated effluent is likely discharged. The surrounding area is characterized by the Nebrodi Mountains and the Potame stream, a small coastal watercourse. The discharge enters the marine environment, which supports diverse aquatic life and is important for local fisheries and tourism.

The plant's treated effluent discharges into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Potame stream, a short coastal watercourse in northeastern Sicily. The marine environment in this area supports diverse aquatic life, including seagrass meadows and fish populations, and is part of the broader Mediterranean Sea ecosystem. The proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means that the discharge may affect coastal water quality, particularly during low dilution conditions.