MATTINATA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Italy | Secondary Treatment for 5,883 Population

The MATTINATA wastewater treatment plant is located in Italy, serving a population of approximately 5,883. The plant operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 26,500 m³/day and an average discharge volume of 753 m³/day, the plant has significant spare capacity. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), plants serving populations between 2,000 and 10,000 are generally required to provide secondary treatment. Italy has implemented this directive through national legislation, and the plant's secondary treatment level meets these requirements. The plant's discharge volume is well below its designed capacity, indicating it is not operating near its limit. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local environment, ultimately draining into the Adriatic Sea. The region's coastal and marine ecosystems benefit from the plant's treatment, which reduces organic pollutants and nutrients. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in the area.

The MATTINATA plant discharges into the local watershed, which drains into the Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic Sea is a semi-enclosed sea with sensitive marine ecosystems, including seagrass meadows and diverse fish populations. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in coastal waters.