ETE Nova Restinga - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Porto Alegre, Brazil

ETE Nova Restinga is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Restinga neighborhood of Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The plant serves a population of 1,295 people, classifying it as a small-scale facility within the metropolitan region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under Brazilian regulations (CONAMA resolutions) for most inland and coastal discharges. The plant discharges 345.60 m³/day of treated wastewater. The plant is situated within 10 km of the Atlantic coast, making its discharge relevant to coastal water quality. The treated effluent likely flows into local watercourses that drain into the Guaíba River or the Lagoa dos Patos system, ultimately reaching the Atlantic Ocean. This coastal proximity underscores the importance of effective treatment to protect marine and estuarine ecosystems.

The plant's discharge enters the drainage network of the Guaíba River basin, which flows into the Lagoa dos Patos, a large coastal lagoon, and then to the Atlantic Ocean. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is ecologically sensitive due to its estuarine and coastal habitats. Effective secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient and pathogen loads that could impact downstream water quality and marine biodiversity.