Pietradefusi Impianto Vertecchia Macchietelle Wastewater Treatment Plant, Campania

Pietradefusi Impianto Vertecchia Macchietelle is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Vertecchia area of Pietradefusi, in the province of Avellino, Campania, Italy. The plant serves a small community of approximately 400 people, reflecting its role in treating wastewater from a rural or small-town setting. It is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and its operations are part of the regional water management infrastructure in southern Italy. 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. The directive mandates secondary treatment for all discharges from agglomerations with a population equivalent (PE) between 2,000 and 10,000, and while this plant serves fewer than 2,000, it still meets the secondary treatment standard. The designed capacity of 400 m³/day aligns with the population served, and the actual discharge volume of 79.19 m³/day indicates operational flexibility. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Calore Irpino and Volturno river systems. The plant's location in the Campania region, known for its agricultural and natural landscapes, means that proper wastewater treatment is essential for protecting local streams and groundwater. The secondary treatment process reduces organic pollutants and suspended solids, supporting the ecological health of the downstream environment.

The plant discharges into the Calore Irpino River basin, which flows into the Volturno River and eventually reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is used for irrigation and recreation. The secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient loading and organic pollution, preserving water quality in a region with sensitive karst aquifers and agricultural runoff concerns.