PORTIGLIOLA_CENTRO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Reggio di Calabria, Italy

PORTIGLIOLA_CENTRO is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Catona district of Reggio di Calabria, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,000 residents and operates with 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 plant has a designed capacity of 3,000 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average of 395.93 cubic meters per day. As a secondary treatment facility, PORTIGLIOLA_CENTRO removes organic matter and suspended solids through biological processes, meeting the EU directive's requirements for inland and coastal discharges. The plant is operated as part of the municipal wastewater infrastructure for the Reggio di Calabria area, ensuring that treated effluent meets regulatory standards before discharge. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 10 km) means its treated effluent likely discharges into the Ionian Sea, either directly or via a short outfall. The receiving waters support diverse marine life and are important for local fisheries and tourism. The plant plays a key role in protecting coastal water quality and preventing nutrient enrichment in the sensitive Mediterranean marine environment.

The treated effluent from PORTIGLIOLA_CENTRO likely discharges into the Ionian Sea, a deep basin of the Mediterranean Sea. This coastal area supports diverse marine ecosystems, including seagrass meadows and fish nurseries, which are sensitive to nutrient inputs. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and protect water quality in the coastal zone, which is important for both ecological health and recreational use.