PIETRAPAOLA_GIARDINO_DI_NICOLETTA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Casali del Manco, Cosenza

PIETRAPAOLA_GIARDINO_DI_NICOLETTA is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in Casali del Manco, a municipality in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a small population of 800 residents, reflecting its role in a rural or small community setting within the region. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 2,500 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of 158.37 cubic meters per day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variability. As an Italian plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates appropriate treatment levels based on the sensitivity of receiving waters and population served. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Ionian Sea via rivers such as the Neto or smaller coastal streams. The Calabria region is characterized by mountainous terrain and a Mediterranean climate, with water bodies supporting diverse aquatic life. The advanced treatment helps protect downstream ecosystems, including coastal marine habitats, from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

The plant discharges into the local watershed in the Calabria region, which drains into the Ionian Sea. The receiving water bodies support diverse aquatic life, including fish and invertebrates, and are important for local biodiversity. Advanced treatment reduces nutrient loads, helping to prevent eutrophication in downstream coastal areas.