MARSICO NUOVO CDA S MARIA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pergola, Basilicata

MARSICO NUOVO CDA S MARIA is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Pergola, a locality within the Marsico Nuovo municipality in the Potenza province of Basilicata, Italy. The plant serves a small population of 500 people, reflecting its role in a rural or small community setting within the southern Apennine region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 3,000 m³/day, and the actual discharge volume is 98.98 m³/day, indicating ample reserve capacity. The plant's operations are subject to Italian national regulations implementing the EU directive, ensuring compliance with effluent quality standards. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Agri River basin, eventually reaching the Ionian Sea. The surrounding environment includes the Lucanian Apennines, an area of ecological importance supporting diverse aquatic life and Mediterranean ecosystems. The plant's inland location and secondary treatment help protect downstream water quality and the sensitive coastal zone of the Gulf of Taranto.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Agri River, which runs through the Basilicata region and empties into the Ionian Sea near the Gulf of Taranto. This coastal area supports important marine habitats and fisheries. The inland location and secondary treatment reduce nutrient loading to the river, helping to maintain water quality in the ecologically sensitive Ionian coastal zone, which is influenced by agricultural runoff and seasonal tourism.