Overview
MASSAFRA wastewater treatment plant serves 40,500 people in Massafra, Puglia, Italy. The facility operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, which mandates secondary treatment for agglomerations of this scale.
The MASSAFRA wastewater treatment plant is located in Massafra, a town in the province of Taranto, Puglia, Italy. Serving a population of approximately 40,500, the plant is part of the region's municipal wastewater infrastructure, handling domestic sewage from the urban area. As an Italian plant serving an agglomeration between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). This directive requires secondary treatment for such agglomerations discharging into fresh water and estuaries, with more stringent tertiary treatment if the receiving waters are designated as sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in thousands of cubic meters per day or similar units), indicating a moderate scale. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Ionian Sea via the Mar Piccolo and Mar Grande of Taranto. The surrounding area includes agricultural and industrial zones, and the downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life. Proper treatment is essential to protect the coastal waters of the Gulf of Taranto, which are important for tourism and fisheries.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into the drainage basin of the Ionian Sea, likely via streams or canals that flow into the Mar Piccolo and Mar Grande of Taranto. These coastal waters support diverse marine life and are part of a sensitive ecosystem that includes seagrass meadows and important nursery habitats for fish. The region's Mediterranean climate and karst geology influence water availability and pollutant transport.
Frequently asked questions
The MASSAFRA wastewater treatment plant is located at Via Ferrara, Massafra, in the province of Taranto, Puglia, Italy.
The plant serves approximately 40,500 people in the municipality of Massafra and surrounding areas.
The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that flow into the Mar Piccolo and Mar Grande of Taranto, ultimately reaching the Ionian Sea.
As an Italian plant serving an agglomeration of over 10,000 population equivalent, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires secondary treatment and, if discharging into sensitive areas, tertiary treatment.
Under the EU UWWTD, plants serving between 10,000 and 150,000 population equivalent typically require secondary treatment. If the receiving waters are designated as sensitive (e.g., eutrophic or subject to algal blooms), tertiary treatment for nutrient removal may be mandated.
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