Mercatale SSC DEP Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sassocorvaro, Italy

Mercatale SSC DEP is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in the Mercatale industrial zone of Sassocorvaro, in the Pesaro e Urbino province of Italy. The plant serves a small population of 209 people and has a design capacity of 500 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of 70 m³/day. As an advanced treatment facility, it goes beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants, aligning with Italy's implementation of the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). For small agglomerations like this, the directive requires appropriate treatment, and advanced treatment ensures high effluent quality. The plant discharges into a local watercourse that ultimately drains into the Adriatic Sea via the Foglia River basin. The region is characterized by hilly terrain and agricultural land, and the advanced treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and the coastal environment of the Adriatic Sea.

The plant's treated effluent flows into a tributary of the Foglia River, which runs through the Marche region and discharges into the Adriatic Sea near Pesaro. The Adriatic Sea is a semi-enclosed basin with sensitive coastal ecosystems, including seagrass meadows and fish nursery areas. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient loading, helping to prevent eutrophication and supporting the ecological health of the river and coastal waters.