LAURIA_MATTATOIO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lauria, Basilicata, Italy

LAURIA_MATTATOIO is a former wastewater treatment plant located in Lauria Inferiore, in the municipality of Lauria, province of Potenza, Basilicata, Italy. The plant was designed with a capacity of 1000 m³/day and provided secondary treatment, but it is currently closed. Its location within 10 km of the coast suggests it may have discharged into coastal waters or a nearby river system. As a secondary treatment plant in Italy, it would have been subject to national regulations implementing the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this scale (designed capacity 1000 m³/day corresponds to roughly 3000-4000 population equivalent), the directive requires secondary treatment as a minimum, with possible additional requirements if discharging into sensitive areas. The plant's proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea coast (within 10 km) means its discharge likely affected the marine environment of the Gulf of Policastro or nearby coastal waters. The area is part of the Basilicata region, characterized by the Pollino massif and the Noce River basin, which drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The closure of this plant may have shifted wastewater treatment to other facilities in the area.

The plant is located near the Tyrrhenian Sea coast, within the drainage basin of the Noce River, which flows into the Gulf of Policastro. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is part of the larger Mediterranean ecosystem. The proximity to the coast means that any discharge would directly impact nearshore waters, potentially affecting local fisheries and recreational beaches. The region is also known for its biodiversity, including the Pollino National Park inland, though the plant itself is not within a protected area.