ETE Novo Horizonte 2 - Secondary Wastewater Treatment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

ETE Novo Horizonte 2 is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Vargem Pequena neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,301 residents, classifying it as a small-scale facility within the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process required under Brazilian regulations (CONAMA resolutions) for most urban wastewater. The plant's discharge volume of 825.72 m³/day indicates it operates within the expected range for its service population. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately flow into the Atlantic Ocean, given the plant's proximity to the coast. This coastal setting requires careful management to protect marine ecosystems and recreational waters in the Rio de Janeiro area.

The plant discharges into the coastal watershed of Rio de Janeiro, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean via rivers such as the Rio Carioca and others in the Guanabara Bay basin. The coastal environment supports diverse marine life and is important for local fisheries and tourism. Secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution and nutrient loads, but the proximity to the coast means that even treated effluent can impact sensitive coastal ecosystems if not properly managed.