San Marco Argentano Cimino Wastewater Treatment Plant, Calabria, Italy

San Marco Argentano Cimino is an advanced wastewater treatment plant located in San Marco Argentano, in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,046 people, making it a small-scale facility within the region's wastewater infrastructure. The plant employs advanced treatment processes, which go beyond secondary treatment to remove nutrients and other pollutants. With a designed capacity of 800 cubic meters per day and a current discharge volume of 405.04 cubic meters per day, it operates below its full capacity. As an Italian facility, it falls under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which requires appropriate treatment for agglomerations of this size to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the water quality of the surrounding watershed and the downstream marine environment, supporting both ecological health and local water resources.

The plant discharges into the local watershed of the Crati River basin, which flows into the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea. The area supports diverse aquatic life and is part of a region with significant agricultural activity. The advanced treatment helps reduce nutrient loading, protecting downstream ecosystems from eutrophication and maintaining water quality for both human use and biodiversity.