LATTARICO_ZAGARELLARO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cozzo Carbonaro, Calabria

LATTARICO_ZAGARELLARO is a wastewater treatment plant located in Cozzo Carbonaro, a locality within the municipality of Lattarico in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a small population of 300 people, reflecting its role in a rural or peri-urban setting. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, but within 50 km of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive water bodies. The designed capacity is 320 cubic meters per day, with a reported discharge volume of 59.39 cubic meters per day, indicating operational headroom. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain toward the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant's advanced treatment helps safeguard the quality of receiving waters, which may support aquatic life and downstream uses. Its operation contributes to the regional compliance with EU water quality standards.

The plant discharges into small streams in the Crati River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea. The area is characterized by Mediterranean climate and hilly terrain. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic ecosystems, and advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading, protecting downstream habitats and coastal water quality.