Impianto Comunale Wastewater Treatment Plant, Piedimonte Etneo, Sicily

Impianto Comunale is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Piedimonte Etneo, a town in the province of Catania on the island of Sicily, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,560 residents and has a designed capacity of 4,800 cubic meters per day, with a reported discharge volume of 902.72 cubic meters per day. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. This level of treatment significantly reduces organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment, ultimately reaching the Ionian Sea. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can affect coastal water quality and marine ecosystems. The area supports diverse marine life and is part of the broader Mediterranean basin, which is ecologically sensitive.

The plant discharges into the Ionian Sea, a major water body of the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal waters near Piedimonte Etneo support diverse marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and rocky reefs, which are important for fish nurseries and biodiversity. The discharge of treated wastewater must comply with EU standards to protect these sensitive marine environments from nutrient enrichment and pollution.