ETE IGUABA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Iguaba Grande, Rio de Janeiro

ETE IGUABA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Iguaba Grande, a city in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The plant serves a population of about 13,168 people, placing it in the small-to-medium agglomeration category. It is situated in the Região Geográfica Imediata de Cabo Frio, within the broader Região Geográfica Intermediária de Macaé-Rio das Ostras-Cabo Frio. As a Brazilian wastewater facility, ETE IGUABA operates under the national regulatory framework established by the Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (CONAMA) and state-level environmental agencies. For plants serving populations of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required to meet effluent standards. The plant discharges treated wastewater into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the coastal lagoons and rivers of the Região dos Lagos region. The surrounding environment includes sensitive coastal ecosystems, such as restinga forests and lagoons, which support diverse aquatic life. Proper treatment is essential to protect these habitats from nutrient pollution and other contaminants.

ETE IGUABA discharges into the coastal watershed of the Região dos Lagos in Rio de Janeiro, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean via a system of coastal lagoons, including Lagoa de Araruama. This region features sensitive ecosystems such as restinga forests and brackish lagoons that support diverse aquatic life, including fish and migratory birds. Effective wastewater treatment is critical to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality in these ecologically important water bodies.