LONGOBUCCO_GIAQUINTA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Destro, Calabria, Italy

LONGOBUCCO_GIAQUINTA is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Destro, a locality within the municipality of Longobucco in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a small population of 184 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or small community setting. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, but within 50 km of the Ionian 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. With a designed capacity of 250 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 36.43 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variability. The advanced treatment level ensures high-quality effluent suitable for sensitive receiving environments. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Ionian Sea. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the local watershed and downstream aquatic ecosystems, including the coastal waters of the Ionian Sea, which support diverse marine life and are important for regional tourism and fisheries.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow through the mountainous terrain of Calabria, eventually reaching the Ionian Sea. The Ionian Sea is a semi-enclosed basin with significant ecological value, supporting diverse marine species and serving as a migratory corridor for sea turtles and cetaceans. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting the sensitive coastal and marine environment from eutrophication and contamination.