MAIDA_VENA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Vena di Maida, Calabria

MAIDA_VENA is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Vena di Maida, a frazione of Maida in the province of Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,350 people and has a designed capacity of 5,000 m³/day, with an average discharge volume of 465.22 m³/day. As an advanced treatment facility, MAIDA_VENA goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, meeting stringent standards under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For agglomerations of this size (under 10,000 population equivalent), the directive requires appropriate treatment, and the advanced level ensures high-quality effluent. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Ionian Sea via the Amato River or nearby coastal streams. The Calabrian coast is ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse marine life and important fisheries. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream water quality and the coastal environment.

The plant's treated effluent enters the local drainage network that flows toward the Ionian Sea, likely via the Amato River or smaller coastal streams. The Ionian Sea in this region supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient loading, helping to prevent eutrophication and protect the coastal marine environment.