RIVELLO_CDA_MASCALCIA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Rivello, Basilicata

RIVELLO_CDA_MASCALCIA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Rivello, a town in the province of Potenza, Basilicata, Italy. The plant serves a small population of 90 people, reflecting its role in a rural or small community setting. It operates under Italian regulations implementing the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU directive for discharges into freshwater and estuaries from agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 120 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 17.82 m³/day, the plant operates well below its capacity, indicating it is sized for potential future growth or seasonal peaks. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Tyrrhenian Sea via the Noce River or nearby coastal streams. The plant's location more than 10 km from the coast reduces direct marine impact, but its proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea (within 50 km) means that nutrient removal is important to protect coastal water quality and marine ecosystems.

The plant discharges into the local watershed of the Noce River basin, which flows into the Tyrrhenian Sea. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is part of the broader Mediterranean ecosystem. Effective secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and protect downstream aquatic habitats, including seagrass meadows and fish spawning grounds.