ETE Balsa Nova Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lapa, Paraná, Brazil

ETE Balsa Nova is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Mariental area of Lapa, Paraná, Brazil. Serving a population of 1,471, the plant provides secondary treatment to domestic wastewater from the community. It is situated in the Região Metropolitana de Curitiba, within the southern region of Brazil. The plant operates at the secondary treatment level, which is appropriate for its small population scale. Under Brazilian regulations, wastewater treatment plants are subject to CONAMA Resolution 430/2011, which sets effluent quality standards for discharge. For small agglomerations, secondary treatment is typically sufficient to meet these standards and protect receiving water bodies. The treated effluent from ETE Balsa Nova is discharged into local streams that eventually flow into the Iguaçu River basin, a major watercourse in Paraná. The Iguaçu River drains into the Iguaçu Falls and ultimately joins the Paraná River, which flows into the Río de la Plata estuary. The plant's operation helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and water quality in this important watershed.

The plant discharges into local tributaries of the Iguaçu River basin, which flows through the Atlantic Forest biome. This region supports diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive due to its high biodiversity. The Iguaçu River ultimately drains into the Paraná River and then the Río de la Plata, making the plant's effluent management important for downstream water quality in both Brazilian and international waters.