San Lorenzo del Vallo Ciccarello Wastewater Treatment Plant, Calabria, Italy

The San Lorenzo del Vallo Ciccarello wastewater treatment plant is located in San Lorenzo del Vallo, a town in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. This facility serves a small population of approximately 300 residents, reflecting its role in managing domestic wastewater for a rural community. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond 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 500 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of 59.39 cubic meters per day, the plant operates well within its capacity, ensuring effective treatment. The treated effluent is discharged into the local water system, which ultimately drains into the Ionian Sea via the Crati River basin. This contributes to protecting downstream aquatic ecosystems and maintaining water quality in the region's coastal environment.

The plant discharges into the Crati River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional biodiversity. The advanced treatment helps minimize nutrient and pollutant loads, protecting the riverine and marine environments from eutrophication and contamination.