Serracapriola Wastewater Treatment Plant, Puglia, Italy

The Serracapriola wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Serracapriola, in the province of Foggia, Puglia, Italy. It serves a population of 3,173, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Italian and EU regulations. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size discharging into freshwater or estuaries. The designed capacity is 5,400 m³/day, with an actual discharge volume of 541 m³/day, indicating significant spare capacity. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Adriatic Sea. The plant's location within 50 km of the coast means its discharge contributes to the nutrient load in the coastal marine environment, where eutrophication can be a concern.

The plant discharges into a watercourse that flows into the Adriatic Sea, a semi-enclosed basin sensitive to nutrient pollution. The surrounding region of Puglia is characterized by agricultural activity, which can contribute diffuse nutrient inputs. The secondary treatment at this plant reduces organic load and suspended solids, but does not specifically target nitrogen or phosphorus removal, which may be relevant for coastal water quality.