ETE SALTO DO JACUI - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Salto do Jacuí, Brazil

ETE SALTO DO JACUI is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Capão Bonito, Salto do Jacuí, within the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The facility serves a population of approximately 3,157 residents, classifying it as a small-scale treatment operation under Brazilian sanitation standards. The plant employs secondary treatment processes, which typically involve biological degradation of organic matter. Secondary treatment is the standard required by Brazilian regulations (CONAMA Resolution 430/2011) for inland discharges, ensuring reduction of biochemical oxygen demand and suspended solids. The treated effluent from ETE SALTO DO JACUI is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Jacuí River basin, part of the larger Patos Lagoon system. This watershed supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agricultural and domestic use in the region. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream water quality and public health.

The plant discharges into the Jacuí River basin, which flows into the Patos Lagoon, one of the largest coastal lagoons in South America. This lagoon system supports rich biodiversity, including fish and bird species, and is an important migratory corridor. The secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loads that could otherwise contribute to eutrophication in the downstream aquatic environment.