PATERNO CALABRO PUGLIANO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Paterno Calabro, Calabria

PATERNO CALABRO PUGLIANO is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Paterno Calabro, a town in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a small population of 260 residents and is designed to handle up to 350 cubic meters of wastewater per day, with an average discharge volume of 51.47 cubic meters per day. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, ensuring compliance with European environmental standards. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Ionian Sea via the Crati River basin. The plant plays a crucial role in protecting the water quality of the region's rivers and coastal waters, supporting aquatic life and preserving the ecological balance of the downstream environment.

The plant discharges into the Crati River basin, which flows into the Ionian Sea near the Gulf of Taranto. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries. The secondary treatment provided helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, mitigating eutrophication risks in the receiving waters and protecting the sensitive coastal ecosystem.