San Donato di Ninea Policastrello Wastewater Treatment Plant, Villapiana, Calabria

The San Donato di Ninea Policastrello wastewater treatment plant is located in Villapiana, in the Calabria region of southern Italy. It serves a small population of 823 people and is currently closed. The plant was designed with a capacity of 1,200 cubic meters per day and discharged an average volume of 162.93 cubic meters per day. The plant provided secondary treatment, which is the standard required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations with a population equivalent between 2,000 and 10,000. However, this plant serves fewer than 2,000 people, so it falls below the directive's threshold for mandatory treatment systems. Despite its closure, the facility's design capacity suggests it was built to accommodate potential future growth. The plant is situated within 10 kilometers of the coast, indicating that treated effluent likely discharged into a coastal water body, such as the Ionian Sea. The surrounding area includes the Pollino National Park, a region of high ecological value. The plant's closure may reflect a shift to a newer facility or changes in local wastewater management.

The plant is located near the Ionian Sea coast in Calabria, southern Italy. The receiving water body is likely a coastal marine environment, as the plant is within 10 km of the shore. The area is part of the larger Ionian Sea basin, which supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries. The nearby Pollino National Park adds ecological sensitivity, as it protects Mediterranean forests and wildlife. The plant's discharge, when operational, would have contributed to nutrient loads in coastal waters, potentially affecting water quality and marine ecosystems.