Citizens mobilizing to demand measures against the nauseating stench coming from the Ponticelli purifier, in the eastern area of Naples. For several days many residents of the so-called area of Porchiano they are forced to tolerate stench caused by the plant which has been in need of major modernization for years.
The critical issue was addressed during a meeting between residents, municipal councilors and activists who reached the facility via Domenico De Roberto to communicate with the technicians of Sma Campania, a regional company that manages the complex. The increase in emissions of volatile organic compounds is linked to the blockage of filter presses A and C, due to the breakage of conveyor belts, and of filter press B due to the deterioration of the aerosol closure and barrier sheets.
As a result, there was a “considerable reduction in the treatment of sewage sludge” which “accumulated in the primary sedimentation tanks, aided by the high pressure phase concomitant with the anomalous appearance of wind, caused an increase in the quantity of aerosols dispersed by them”, as stated in the report signed by the plant director and delivered to citizens and local administrators. It is highlighted in the same that the filter presses have been reactivated and some components were purchased to speed up the emptying of the tank. Furthermore, the sheets “which will allow a small part of the aerosols to be reduced” are being delivered, we read in the document describing the state of wear of the Ponticelli plant.
“At the meeting, the plant manager explained to us that the nauseating smells that citizens have been suffering from in recent weeks are due to the malfunctioning of some components of the plant,” he says. Anthony DiCostanzo, councilor with responsibility for public works of the VI Municipality of the Municipality of Naples. «Within about ten days – adds Di Costanzo – the situation should normalize as they have already prepared a series of technical measures to eliminate these dysfunctions which are creating quite a few inconveniences for residents. We will be attentive and vigilant on this, so much so that we have updated ourselves for a further meeting to be held shortly.”
«After the manager explained to us the reasons for the wear and tear of some parts of the sludge cycle, he promised to provide, within seven to ten days, the repair to alleviate the problem which will not be solved definitively since the accumulation of sludge and other things will always cause bad smells», he explains. Charles Capassocouncilor of the VI Municipality, who insists: «We have forcefully claimed the right to breathe air that does not damage public health», explains Capasso who was present at the inspection together with his fellow councilors Antonio Grieco, Luigi Limatola e Generous Olivieri.
Last May, the single extraordinary commissioner for purification approved the executive project for the functional adaptation of the Naples East purification plant: substantial works are expected to 152 million and 600 thousand euros of which 130 for the works. A clear increase compared to the 89 million estimated in 2012 which is due, in particular, to the need to adapt the intervention to the requirements and opinions of the conference of services and those dictated by the Superintendency. The contract was also affected by the increases in the construction sector due to the Covid-19 emergency and the war in Ukraine. The works are necessary to redevelop the important infrastructure that serves a large area of the Neapolitan territory.
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