Overview
Santa Sofia d'Epiro Gaudio is an advanced wastewater treatment plant serving 645 people in Calabria, Italy. It discharges 127.69 cubic meters of treated effluent daily, operating under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive standards.
The Santa Sofia d'Epiro Gaudio wastewater treatment plant serves the small municipality of Santa Sofia d'Epiro in the Calabria region of southern Italy. With a population equivalent of 645, it is classified as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. The plant is situated inland, approximately 30 km from the Ionian Sea coast. The facility provides advanced (tertiary) treatment, which goes beyond the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. Its designed capacity is 1,000 cubic meters per day, and it currently treats an average daily flow of 127.69 cubic meters, indicating significant spare capacity. The treatment process likely includes nutrient removal to protect sensitive receiving waters. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain toward the Ionian Sea. The plant plays a key role in protecting the region's aquatic ecosystems, including the Crati River basin and the Gulf of Taranto, by reducing pollutant loads from domestic wastewater. Its advanced treatment helps safeguard water quality in an area valued for agriculture and tourism.
Environmental context
The plant discharges into small streams that flow into the Crati River, the largest river in Calabria, which empties into the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries. The advanced treatment ensures that nutrient and pathogen levels are minimized, protecting downstream ecosystems and recreational water quality along the Calabrian coast.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Santa Sofia d'Epiro, a municipality in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, southern Italy. It serves the local community with advanced wastewater treatment.
The plant has a designed capacity of 1,000 cubic meters per day and currently treats an average of 127.69 cubic meters daily, serving a population of 645.
The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Crati River, which flows into the Gulf of Taranto in the Ionian Sea.
The plant provides advanced (tertiary) treatment, which includes nutrient removal and disinfection, exceeding the secondary treatment standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for small agglomerations.
As an Italian wastewater treatment plant, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), transposed into Italian law. For small agglomerations like this, secondary treatment is required, but the plant provides advanced treatment for enhanced environmental protection.
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