Overview
Impianto Via Cannitello is a primary treatment plant in Santa Margherita di Belice, Sicily, serving 864 people. It discharges 171.04 m³/day of treated wastewater near the coast.
Impianto Via Cannitello is a wastewater treatment plant located in Santa Margherita di Belice, a town in the province of Agrigento, Sicily, Italy. The plant serves a population of 864 and has a designed capacity of 6,000 m³/day, currently discharging 171.04 m³/day of treated wastewater. The plant provides primary treatment, which involves physical processes such as sedimentation to remove solids. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000 typically require secondary treatment. However, this plant serves fewer than 2,000 people, and primary treatment may be considered appropriate depending on the sensitivity of the receiving environment. The treated effluent is discharged into the local environment near the coast of Sicily. The area drains into the Mediterranean Sea, which is a semi-enclosed sea with limited water exchange, making it sensitive to nutrient pollution. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) underscores the importance of adequate treatment to protect marine ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the coastal waters of Sicily, which ultimately flow into the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean is a semi-enclosed sea with high biodiversity and sensitive marine habitats, including seagrass meadows and coral formations. Nutrient inputs from wastewater can contribute to eutrophication, affecting water quality and marine life. The local watershed includes agricultural areas, and the plant's primary treatment may not fully remove nutrients, posing a risk to downstream coastal ecosystems.
Frequently asked questions
Impianto Via Cannitello is located at Via Cannitello in Santa Margherita di Belice, a town in the province of Agrigento, Sicily, Italy.
The plant provides primary treatment, which involves physical processes like sedimentation to remove suspended solids from wastewater.
The treated wastewater is discharged into the local environment near the coast of Sicily, ultimately reaching the Mediterranean Sea.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000 typically require secondary treatment. Since this plant serves fewer than 2,000 people, primary treatment may be acceptable depending on the sensitivity of the receiving waters.
In Italy, small agglomerations (under 2,000 PE) often use primary treatment or simple septic systems, especially in rural areas. The EU directive allows for appropriate treatment based on local conditions and the sensitivity of the receiving environment.
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