Overview
Villapiana Orto della Signora wastewater treatment plant serves approximately 29,400 people in Villapiana, Calabria, Italy. The facility operates under EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC.
Villapiana Orto della Signora is a wastewater treatment plant located in Villapiana, a town in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy. The plant serves a population of approximately 29,400 people, classifying it as a medium agglomeration under EU regulations. The facility is situated near the Ionian Sea coast, within 50 km of the shoreline. As a plant serving a population equivalent between 10,000 and 150,000, it is subject to the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which requires secondary treatment as a minimum. The directive also mandates more stringent treatment if the discharge enters sensitive areas, such as those prone to eutrophication. The plant discharges treated wastewater into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Ionian Sea. The Calabrian coast is ecologically significant, supporting diverse marine life and serving as a habitat for various fish species. The plant's operations contribute to protecting the coastal environment from untreated sewage pollution, aligning with regional water quality objectives.
Environmental context
The plant's treated effluent flows into streams that drain into the Ionian Sea, a basin of the Mediterranean Sea. The Ionian coast of Calabria is characterized by sandy beaches and rocky shores, supporting seagrass meadows and marine biodiversity. The area is important for local fisheries and tourism, making proper wastewater treatment essential to prevent nutrient enrichment and bacterial contamination that could harm aquatic ecosystems and public health.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located at Strada vicinale Torre Saraceno, Villapiana, in the province of Cosenza, Calabria, Italy.
The plant serves approximately 29,400 people, classifying it as a medium-sized agglomeration under EU regulations.
The plant discharges treated effluent into local streams that flow into the Ionian Sea, a part of the Mediterranean Sea.
As an Italian plant serving over 10,000 people, it operates under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC, which mandates secondary treatment and potentially tertiary treatment if discharging into sensitive areas.
For medium agglomerations (10,000-150,000 PE) in Italy, secondary treatment is standard under the EU UWWTD. If the receiving water body is sensitive (e.g., coastal areas prone to eutrophication), tertiary treatment for nutrient removal may be required.
Nearby plants