Overview
EPC VILA ZILDA is a wastewater treatment plant in Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil, serving approximately 141,787 people. It is located within 50 km of the coast, highlighting its role in protecting coastal waters.
EPC VILA ZILDA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Guarujá, a coastal city in São Paulo state, Brazil. The plant serves a population of around 141,787, placing it in the category of a medium-to-large agglomeration under Brazilian regulatory frameworks. Its location in the Baixada Santista metropolitan region underscores its importance for managing wastewater from a densely populated urban area near the Atlantic coast. As a plant serving over 100,000 people, EPC VILA ZILDA is expected to meet advanced treatment standards under Brazil's National Environmental Council (CONAMA) resolutions, which require secondary or tertiary treatment for large urban centers to protect receiving water bodies. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in cubic meters per second or similar unit), indicating a substantial infrastructure investment. The plant's scale implies compliance with stringent discharge limits. The plant's proximity to the coast (within 50 km) means its treated effluent ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean, likely via local rivers or direct marine outfall. This makes effective treatment critical to prevent nutrient pollution and protect marine ecosystems, including mangroves and coastal habitats that support biodiversity and local fisheries. The plant plays a key role in safeguarding water quality in the Santos region, a major port and industrial hub.
Environmental context
EPC VILA ZILDA discharges into the coastal watershed of the Baixada Santista, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean. The region features extensive mangrove ecosystems and estuaries that serve as nurseries for marine life and buffer against storm surges. Effective wastewater treatment is essential to prevent eutrophication and protect these sensitive coastal habitats, which support local fishing and tourism economies.
Frequently asked questions
EPC VILA ZILDA is located in Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil, specifically on Avenida Miguel Stefano in the Balneário Cidade Atlântica neighborhood, Enseada.
The plant serves approximately 141,787 people, making it a medium-to-large agglomeration under Brazilian wastewater regulations.
The plant's treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean. Given its coastal proximity, the plant likely uses a marine outfall or discharges into a river that flows to the sea.
The plant operates under Brazil's CONAMA resolutions, which set discharge standards for wastewater treatment plants. For agglomerations over 100,000 people, secondary or tertiary treatment is typically required to protect water quality.
In Brazil, plants serving populations around 140,000 are expected to provide at least secondary treatment, often with nutrient removal, to comply with CONAMA standards and protect coastal ecosystems.
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