Morano Calabro S Nicola Wastewater Treatment Plant, San Demetrio Corone, Calabria

Morano Calabro S Nicola is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in San Demetrio Corone, in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,560 and has a designed capacity of 6,000 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of 902.72 m³/day. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. This directive mandates secondary treatment for all inland discharges from such communities to protect water quality. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Ionian Sea. The plant plays a key role in safeguarding the water quality of the surrounding watershed, which supports agricultural activities and local ecosystems in the Calabria region.

The plant discharges into a tributary of the Crati River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries. The secondary treatment process helps reduce organic pollutants and nutrients, protecting downstream aquatic habitats from eutrophication.