MEANA SARDO LOC SA SCOCCA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Meana Sardo, Sardinia

MEANA SARDO LOC SA SCOCCA is a wastewater treatment plant located in the municipality of Meana Sardo, in the province of Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy. The plant serves a small population of 687 residents, reflecting its role in a rural inland community. It operates under Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which sets standards for collection and treatment based on agglomeration size. The plant provides secondary treatment, a standard biological process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. With a designed capacity of 1,400 m³/day and a current discharge volume of 136 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. As a small agglomeration (under 2,000 population equivalent), the EU directive requires appropriate treatment to protect receiving waters. The plant discharges treated effluent into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Flumendosa River basin. The inland location, over 50 km from the coast, reduces direct marine impact. The surrounding watershed supports Mediterranean ecosystems, including riparian habitats and agricultural areas, making proper treatment essential for water quality and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Flumendosa River basin, which flows eastward through Sardinia and empties into the Tyrrhenian Sea. This inland watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is used for irrigation and recreation. The secondary treatment helps protect downstream water quality, reducing nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in coastal waters.