IMPIANTO C DA TRE PIZZI CAMPANELLE - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Modica, Sicily

IMPIANTO C DA TRE PIZZI CAMPANELLE is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Modica, a city in the province of Ragusa, Sicily, Italy. The plant serves a population of 2,850 and operates with a designed capacity of 3,600 cubic meters per day, treating an average discharge volume of 564.20 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment facility, it provides biological treatment to reduce organic pollutants and suspended solids before discharge. The plant operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000 discharging into freshwater or estuaries. For smaller agglomerations like this one, the directive mandates appropriate treatment to meet environmental standards. The plant's capacity utilization is moderate, indicating operational efficiency within its design parameters. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Ionian Sea via the Irminio River or other coastal streams in the region. The area is characterized by Mediterranean climate and karstic geology, which influences water infiltration and runoff patterns. The plant plays a key role in protecting the downstream aquatic environment and the coastal waters of southern Sicily from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

The plant discharges into the local drainage network that flows toward the Ionian Sea, likely via the Irminio River or smaller coastal streams. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life and are part of a Mediterranean coastal ecosystem sensitive to nutrient enrichment. The region's karstic terrain means groundwater and surface water are closely connected, making pollution control critical for both ecological and drinking water quality.