ORIOLO_FALCE Wastewater Treatment Plant, Macchia Albanese, Calabria

ORIOLO_FALCE is a wastewater treatment plant located in Macchia Albanese, a frazione of San Demetrio Corone in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,730 and is designed to handle up to 5,000 m³ of wastewater per day, with a current discharge volume of 540.44 m³/day. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, going beyond the secondary treatment standards required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Advanced treatment typically includes nutrient removal (nitrogen and phosphorus) to protect sensitive receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Ionian Sea. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its discharge can affect coastal water quality and marine ecosystems. Advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protect the sensitive marine environment of the Gulf of Taranto.

The plant discharges into the local drainage network that flows into the Ionian Sea via the Crati River basin. The Ionian Sea coast in Calabria supports diverse marine life, including seagrass meadows and important fisheries. Advanced treatment at this plant reduces nutrient and pollutant loads, helping to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality in the coastal zone, which is ecologically sensitive and supports tourism and fishing activities.