Overview
Rivello Carpineta is a secondary treatment plant serving 60 people in Rivello, Basilicata, Italy. It discharges treated wastewater near the Tyrrhenian coast.
Rivello Carpineta is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Medichetta area of Rivello, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. The plant serves a small population of 60 people, reflecting its role in a rural community. It is situated near the Tyrrhenian coast, within 10 km of the shoreline. 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 above 2,000, but smaller plants like this one are also expected to meet appropriate treatment standards to protect local water quality. The plant has a designed capacity of 500 cubic meters per day, with a current discharge volume of 11.88 cubic meters per day. The treated effluent from Rivello Carpineta ultimately drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea via local watercourses. The coastal environment in this part of Basilicata supports diverse marine life and is important for regional tourism and fisheries. Proper treatment helps minimize nutrient and pollutant loads that could affect coastal water quality and marine ecosystems.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into local streams that flow toward the Tyrrhenian Sea, a semi-enclosed basin with limited water exchange. The coastal zone near Rivello supports seagrass meadows and nursery habitats for fish species. Effective secondary treatment reduces organic load and suspended solids, protecting these sensitive marine environments from eutrophication and degradation.
Frequently asked questions
Rivello Carpineta is located in the Medichetta area of Rivello, in the province of Potenza, Basilicata, Italy.
The plant serves a small population of 60 people, typical of a rural community in southern Italy.
The treated wastewater is discharged into local watercourses that flow toward the Tyrrhenian Sea, less than 10 km from the coast.
Under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), secondary treatment is required for agglomerations above 2,000 population equivalent. For smaller plants like this, national regulations ensure appropriate treatment to protect receiving waters.
Small plants in Italy often use secondary biological treatment, such as activated sludge or trickling filters, to meet national discharge standards that align with EU directives.
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