ETE RANGEL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Patrocínio, Minas Gerais, Brazil

ETE RANGEL is a wastewater treatment plant located in Patrocínio, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The plant serves a population of around 38,456 residents, placing it in the medium-sized agglomeration category for Brazilian sanitation infrastructure. Its location in the interior of Minas Gerais, far from the coast, shapes its operational and environmental context. Brazil's wastewater treatment sector is governed by federal laws such as the National Water Resources Policy (Law 9.433/1997) and CONAMA resolutions that set discharge standards. For a plant of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required to meet biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids limits. It is expected to comply with state-level environmental licensing from the Minas Gerais environmental agency (FEAM). The treated effluent from ETE RANGEL likely discharges into a local watercourse within the Paraná River basin, which ultimately drains into the Río de la Plata estuary. This watershed supports agricultural activities and provides water for communities downstream. Proper treatment is essential to protect water quality in this region, which is known for coffee and grain farming.

ETE RANGEL discharges into a local tributary within the Paraná River basin, which flows into the Río de la Plata estuary. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and is important for regional agriculture and drinking water supplies. The plant's inland location reduces direct marine impact, but its effluent quality affects downstream ecosystems and communities that rely on the river system.