San Martino d'Agri Wastewater Treatment Plant, Basilicata, Italy

The San Martino d'Agri wastewater treatment plant is located in the municipality of San Martino d'Agri, in the province of Potenza, Basilicata, Italy. It serves a small population of 700 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 kilometers from the coast, and operates under Italian and European Union regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent below 10,000. It has a designed capacity of 1000 cubic meters per day and currently discharges an average volume of 138.58 cubic meters daily, indicating a utilization rate well below capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Ionian Sea via the Agri River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the Agri River and the downstream coastal environment, supporting aquatic life and preventing eutrophication in the sensitive Mediterranean ecosystem.

The plant discharges into the Agri River basin, which flows through the Basilicata region and empties into the Ionian Sea near the Gulf of Taranto. The downstream environment includes agricultural areas and coastal wetlands that support diverse aquatic species. The secondary treatment provided helps reduce organic pollutants and nutrients, protecting the river's ecological health and the marine environment from excessive nutrient loading.