ETE Rio Verde Vargem Grande do Sul - Wastewater Treatment Plant in São Paulo, Brazil

ETE Rio Verde Vargem Grande do Sul is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Jardim dos Ipês neighborhood of Vargem Grande do Sul, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The plant serves an estimated population of 38,569 residents, placing it in the medium-sized agglomeration category for Brazilian wastewater infrastructure. As a facility in São Paulo state, the plant is subject to Brazil's national environmental standards, including CONAMA resolutions and state-level water quality regulations. For agglomerations of this scale, secondary treatment is typically required to meet effluent standards for organic matter and suspended solids. It operates within a regulatory framework that emphasizes pollution control and water resource protection. The plant discharges treated effluent into the Rio Verde, a tributary of the Rio Pardo, which flows into the Rio Grande and ultimately the Paraná River basin. This river system supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and urban uses downstream. The plant's operation is critical for maintaining water quality in the region's surface waters.

The plant's treated effluent enters the Rio Verde, which flows into the Rio Pardo, a tributary of the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande is part of the Paraná River basin, one of South America's largest watersheds, draining into the Río de la Plata estuary. The local watershed supports agricultural activities and provides habitat for fish species such as the dourado and pacu. Maintaining proper treatment levels is essential to prevent nutrient enrichment and protect downstream aquatic ecosystems.