MAROPATI_DONNACA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Selbio, Calabria

MAROPATI_DONNACA is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Selbio, a locality within Rizziconi, Reggio Calabria, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,700 people, reflecting a small-scale municipal facility typical of rural communities in the region. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, ensuring high-quality effluent. With a designed capacity of 3,000 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 336.54 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal demand. As an Italian facility, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates advanced treatment for sensitive areas and agglomerations above 10,000 population equivalent, though smaller plants like this one are also encouraged to meet high standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the nearby coastal zone. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) underscores the importance of advanced treatment to protect marine water quality and the sensitive ecosystems of the Calabrian coastline, which supports diverse aquatic life and is important for local tourism and fisheries.

The plant discharges into the Tyrrhenian Sea via local streams and coastal waters. The Calabrian coast is ecologically sensitive, supporting seagrass meadows and marine biodiversity. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream habitats, including spawning grounds for fish and migratory corridors for sea turtles.