ETE ITAGIBA Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ipiaú, Bahia, Brazil

ETE ITAGIBA is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Ipiaú, Bahia, Brazil, along Rodovia 330. It serves a population of approximately 8,560 residents, classifying it as a small agglomeration under Brazilian sanitation regulations. The plant is situated in the Região Geográfica Imediata de Ipiaú, within the broader Região Geográfica Intermediária de Vitória da Conquista. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by Brazilian environmental legislation (CONAMA resolutions) for inland communities of this size. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to remove organic matter and suspended solids, ensuring effluent quality meets discharge standards. The plant operates with a reported discharge volume of 651.26 m³/day, reflecting its capacity to handle the local wastewater load. Treated effluent from ETE ITAGIBA is discharged into local watercourses that drain into the Rio de Contas basin, which flows eastward to the Atlantic Ocean. The Rio de Contas watershed supports diverse aquatic ecosystems and is important for regional water supply and agriculture. By providing secondary treatment, the plant helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, safeguarding downstream water quality and ecological health.

ETE ITAGIBA discharges into tributaries of the Rio de Contas, a major river in Bahia that flows approximately 620 km to the Atlantic Ocean near Itacaré. The Rio de Contas basin supports Atlantic Forest remnants and mangrove ecosystems at its mouth, which are ecologically sensitive areas. The plant's secondary treatment reduces organic load and nutrients, helping to prevent eutrophication and protect aquatic biodiversity in the downstream river and coastal zone.