ETE Jardim das Hortências - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Santa Cruz do Sul, Brazil

ETE Jardim das Hortências is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Santa Cruz do Sul, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The facility serves a population of approximately 7,890 residents, placing it in the small agglomeration category under Brazilian regulatory frameworks. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required for urban wastewater in Brazil under CONAMA Resolution 430/2011 and other national regulations. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Jacuí River basin, which flows into the Lagoa dos Patos lagoon system and ultimately the Atlantic Ocean. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically important region.

The plant discharges into the Jacuí River basin, which flows into the Lagoa dos Patos, one of the largest coastal lagoons in South America, before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional fisheries and water supply. Secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the lagoon system.