Overview
RICADI_SANTA_MARIA wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 12,000 people in Ricadi, Calabria, Italy. Located near the Tyrrhenian coast, it operates under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive standards.
RICADI_SANTA_MARIA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Santa Maria, a frazione of Ricadi in the province of Vibo Valentia, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 12,000, placing it in the medium-agglomeration category under EU classification. As an Italian plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment for agglomerations of this size. Italian regulations mandate compliance with national decrees implementing the directive. The plant discharges into the local watershed, which drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The coastal environment supports diverse marine life and is important for tourism and fisheries. Proper treatment helps protect bathing waters and coastal ecosystems along the Calabrian coast.
Environmental context
The plant's receiving waters flow into the Tyrrhenian Sea, a key Mediterranean basin supporting diverse marine ecosystems. The coastal area near Ricadi is ecologically sensitive, with seagrass meadows and rocky reefs that provide habitat for fish and invertebrates. Downstream waters are used for recreation and fishing, making nutrient and pathogen removal critical for environmental health.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Via Torre Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Ricadi, in the province of Vibo Valentia, Calabria, Italy.
The plant serves approximately 12,000 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU standards.
The plant discharges treated effluent into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea near the Calabrian coast.
As an Italian plant serving over 10,000 people, it must comply with EU Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment and, if discharging into sensitive areas, tertiary treatment.
Italian plants of this scale typically employ secondary biological treatment (e.g., activated sludge) to meet EU standards, with disinfection if required for coastal discharge.
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