ETE SAO LUIZ CANELA - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Três Coroas, Brazil

ETE SAO LUIZ CANELA is a wastewater treatment plant located in Picada Café, within the municipality of Três Coroas, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The plant serves a population of 1,297 people, classifying it as a small-scale facility. It operates in the Região Geográfica Imediata de Taquara - Parobé - Igrejinha, part of the broader Porto Alegre intermediate region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under Brazilian regulations (CONAMA resolutions) for most inland wastewater discharges. With a daily discharge volume of 311.04 m³, the facility ensures that effluent meets basic quality standards before release. As a small agglomeration, it is subject to national environmental licensing and monitoring by state agencies. The treated effluent is discharged into local watercourses that eventually drain into the Rio dos Sinos basin, a major river system in southern Brazil. This basin supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for downstream communities. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in the region, particularly given the proximity to the Atlantic Forest biome.

The plant discharges into tributaries of the Rio dos Sinos, which flows into the Guaíba Lake and eventually the Patos Lagoon, one of the largest coastal lagoons in South America. This watershed supports important fish populations and migratory birds. The region's subtropical climate and hilly terrain make water quality management critical for both ecological health and human use.