NEVIANO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Neviano, Puglia, Italy

The NEVIANO wastewater treatment plant is located in Neviano, a town in the province of Lecce, Puglia, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 3,957 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, but within 50 km of the Adriatic Sea. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for discharges into freshwater and estuaries. With a designed capacity of 7,000 m³/day and a reported discharge volume of 617 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating potential for future growth or seasonal variability. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Adriatic Sea. The region of Puglia is characterized by a Mediterranean climate and karstic geology, which influences groundwater and surface water interactions. The plant plays a key role in protecting the local watershed and downstream coastal waters from pollution, supporting both environmental health and tourism in the Salento peninsula.

The NEVIANO plant discharges into local streams that flow into the Ionian Sea (part of the Mediterranean Sea) via the Salento peninsula's drainage network. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life and are important for regional biodiversity. The area's karstic terrain means groundwater is vulnerable to contamination, making effective wastewater treatment critical for protecting both surface and groundwater resources.