Massa Fermana Tarucchio Dep - Primary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Massa Fermana, Italy

Massa Fermana Tarucchio Dep is a wastewater treatment plant located in Selva, Massa Fermana, in the province of Fermo, Italy. It serves a small population of 139 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 kilometers from the coast, and its operations are part of the municipal infrastructure for the town. The plant provides primary treatment, which involves physical processes like sedimentation to remove solids. With a designed capacity of 100 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of 27.52 cubic meters per day, it operates well below its capacity. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), small agglomerations like this are typically required to have appropriate treatment, though primary treatment may be acceptable for discharges into less sensitive areas. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Adriatic Sea via the Tenna River basin. The region's watercourses support diverse aquatic life and are important for local agriculture. The plant's location inland reduces direct marine impact, but its discharges still affect the freshwater ecosystem and downstream coastal waters.

The plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Tenna River, which empties into the Adriatic Sea near Porto Sant'Elpidio. The Tenna River basin supports a variety of fish species and is used for irrigation. The Adriatic Sea in this region is ecologically sensitive, hosting important nursery habitats for marine life. The plant's primary treatment reduces larger solids but may not fully remove nutrients, which could contribute to eutrophication in downstream waters.