IMPIANTO CONSORTILE DI SCORDIA - Former Wastewater Treatment Plant in Scordia, Sicily

IMPIANTO CONSORTILE DI SCORDIA is a former wastewater treatment plant located in Scordia, in the province of Catania, Sicily, Italy. The plant was designed to serve the local agglomeration with a capacity of 35,000 m³/day, indicating it was intended for a medium-to-large population. As a secondary treatment facility, it would have provided biological treatment to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. Although the plant is now closed, its design capacity places it within the scope of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) above 2,000 and more stringent treatment for sensitive areas. The plant's capacity of 35,000 m³/day corresponds to a PE of roughly 100,000-150,000, classifying it as a large agglomeration under the directive. In Italy, such plants are typically regulated by regional environmental agencies (ARPA) and must comply with national transposition of EU directives. Given its location in eastern Sicily, treated effluent likely discharged into a local stream or river that flows into the Ionian Sea. The area is characterized by Mediterranean climate and agricultural land use. The closure of the plant suggests that wastewater treatment responsibilities have been transferred to a newer or upgraded facility in the region.

The plant is located in the Ionian Sea basin, with potential discharge into a tributary of the Simeto River or directly into the Ionian Sea via coastal drainage. The downstream environment includes agricultural areas and coastal ecosystems that support diverse aquatic life. Proper treatment is essential to protect water quality in the Mediterranean Sea, which is sensitive to nutrient pollution.