Impianto C. da San Michele, Ciminna

Overview

Impianto C. da San Michele is an advanced wastewater treatment plant serving Ciminna, Sicily, Italy. It treats wastewater for approximately 3,888 people with a designed capacity of 4,700 m³/day and discharges 769.69 m³/day.

Impianto C. da San Michele is a wastewater treatment facility located in Ciminna, a town in the province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The plant serves a population of about 3,888 people and has a designed capacity of 4,700 m³ per day, with an average discharge volume of 769.69 m³ per day. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. This level of treatment is typically implemented in sensitive areas to reduce nutrient loads and protect receiving water bodies. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant's coastal proximity (within 10 km of the coast) means its discharge can affect marine water quality. Advanced treatment helps minimize environmental impact on the coastal ecosystem and supports compliance with Italian and EU regulations.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the local drainage network that flows toward the Tyrrhenian Sea near the Gulf of Termini Imerese. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is part of the broader Mediterranean ecosystem. The advanced treatment reduces nutrient and pollutant loads, helping to protect seagrass meadows and fish habitats from eutrophication and contamination.

Frequently asked questions

The plant is located in Ciminna, a town in the province of Palermo, on the island of Sicily, Italy.

The plant serves approximately 3,888 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under EU wastewater directives.

The treated effluent is discharged into the local drainage network, which flows toward the Tyrrhenian Sea near the Gulf of Termini Imerese.

The plant provides advanced treatment, which includes nutrient removal beyond secondary treatment. This is often required in sensitive coastal areas to protect marine ecosystems.

Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations of this size typically require secondary treatment. The plant's advanced treatment exceeds this standard, likely due to its coastal location and the need to protect the Tyrrhenian Sea.