MARCELLINARA_DORZANO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Marcellinara, Calabria, Italy

MARCELLINARA_DORZANO is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Marcellinara, a town in the province of Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,300 and is part of the region's wastewater infrastructure for small agglomerations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for discharges into coastal waters. With a designed capacity of 1,800 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 257.35 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variability. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Ionian Sea. The coastal location means the plant's discharge must meet stringent standards to protect marine water quality and the sensitive ecosystems of the Calabrian coast, including seagrass meadows and marine habitats.

The plant discharges into the drainage basin of the Ionian Sea, a key marine environment in southern Italy. The coastal waters near Marcellinara support diverse marine life and are important for local fisheries and tourism. The proximity to the coast (within 10 km) requires careful management of nutrient loads to prevent eutrophication and protect the ecological balance of the nearshore zone.