San Giovanni in Fiore Lorica Wastewater Treatment Plant | Calabria, Italy

The San Giovanni in Fiore Lorica wastewater treatment plant serves the community of San Giovanni in Fiore in the Calabria region of southern Italy. This facility is part of the municipal infrastructure for the area, which lies inland in the mountainous terrain of the Sila plateau. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, exceeding the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. With a designed capacity of 5,000 m³/day and an actual discharge volume of 570 m³/day, the facility operates well below its capacity, indicating room for future growth or seasonal variations. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Ionian Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the downstream aquatic environment, including the Neto River basin, which supports diverse ecosystems and is important for regional water quality.

The plant discharges into the Neto River basin, which flows eastward through Calabria into the Ionian Sea. This watershed supports a variety of aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive due to its mountainous terrain and Mediterranean climate. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient loading and protects downstream habitats, including coastal zones that are important for biodiversity and tourism.