ETE Guapiranga Itanhaém - Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant in Itanhaém, São Paulo

ETE Guapiranga Itanhaém is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Itanhaém, within the Baixada Santista metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. The plant serves a population of around 11,465 residents, contributing to the sanitation infrastructure of this coastal urban area. As a plant in Brazil, it operates under the national environmental regulations set by CONAMA (Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente) and is subject to state-level oversight by CETESB in São Paulo. For a population of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required to meet discharge standards for organic matter and solids. The plant's treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that drain into the Atlantic Ocean, given Itanhaém's coastal location within 50 km of the coast. The region's watershed supports mangrove ecosystems and estuarine habitats, which are sensitive to nutrient loading and require effective treatment to maintain water quality.

The plant discharges into the Itanhaém River basin, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean via the estuarine system of the Baixada Santista. This coastal region features mangroves and Atlantic Forest remnants that provide critical habitat for aquatic species and migratory birds. Nutrient pollution from untreated or inadequately treated wastewater could lead to eutrophication in the estuary, impacting local fisheries and biodiversity.