PETRELLA LIRI Wastewater Treatment Plant | Cappadocia, Abruzzo, Italy

The PETRELLA LIRI wastewater treatment plant is located in Petrella Liri, a frazione of Cappadocia, in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 1,510 people, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. As a primary treatment facility, the plant performs basic physical sedimentation to remove settleable solids. Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), small agglomerations like this are generally required to provide appropriate treatment, though primary treatment may be acceptable for discharges into less sensitive areas. The plant's designed capacity is 100 cubic meters per day, and it currently discharges about 299 cubic meters daily. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Liri River and Garigliano River system. The surrounding Abruzzo region features mountainous terrain and sensitive aquatic ecosystems, making proper wastewater management important for protecting downstream water quality and biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Liri River basin, which flows through the Apennine Mountains and joins the Garigliano River before reaching the Tyrrhenian Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive due to its karst geology and mountainous terrain. The area is known for its natural springs and rivers that provide habitat for species such as the Italian stream frog and various endemic fish.