Impianto C da Roccaro Wastewater Treatment Plant, Maletto, Sicily

Impianto C da Roccaro is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Maletto, a town in the province of Catania, Sicily, Italy. The facility serves a population of approximately 4,027 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU directive for freshwater discharges from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 6,000 m³/day and an average daily flow of 797.20 m³/day, the facility 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 Ionian Sea via the Simeto River basin. The receiving water body supports aquatic life and is part of a Mediterranean ecosystem. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality and public health in the region.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Simeto River, one of Sicily's major rivers, which empties into the Ionian Sea near Catania. The Simeto basin supports diverse aquatic habitats and is important for irrigation and local biodiversity. The secondary treatment provided by the plant helps reduce nutrient and organic loads, mitigating eutrophication risks in the coastal marine environment.