Overview
Volturino wastewater treatment plant in Puglia, Italy, serves a small population of 1,025 with secondary treatment. It discharges 245 m³/day and has a designed capacity of 1,979 m³/day.
The Volturino wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Volturino, in the Puglia region of southern Italy. It serves a small population of approximately 1,025 residents, reflecting the rural character of the area. The plant is situated inland, more than 10 km from the coast, and operates as part of the regional wastewater infrastructure managed by local authorities. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) for agglomerations of this size. The designed capacity is 1,979 m³/day, while the current discharge volume is 245 m³/day, indicating that the plant operates well below its capacity. This suggests that the facility is sized to accommodate future growth or seasonal population fluctuations. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Adriatic Sea via the Candelaro River or other tributaries of the Gulf of Manfredonia. The Puglia region relies on these water bodies for irrigation and ecosystem support, making proper treatment essential for protecting downstream aquatic habitats and agricultural water quality.
Environmental context
The Volturino plant discharges into small streams that feed into the Candelaro River, which flows into the Gulf of Manfredonia on the Adriatic Sea. This coastal area supports diverse marine life and is part of a broader Mediterranean ecosystem. The region's agriculture depends on clean water from these rivers, and secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the Adriatic.
Frequently asked questions
The Volturino wastewater treatment plant is located in the town of Volturino, in the province of Foggia, Puglia region, southern Italy.
The plant serves a population of approximately 1,025 people, typical of a small rural agglomeration in Italy.
The treated effluent is discharged into local streams that eventually flow into the Candelaro River and then into the Gulf of Manfredonia on the Adriatic Sea.
The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum required by the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive for agglomerations of this size.
Italian wastewater treatment plants operate under the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC), which mandates secondary treatment for inland plants serving between 2,000 and 10,000 population equivalent. For smaller plants like Volturino (1,025 people), appropriate treatment is still required to protect water quality.
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