ETE UNIMED Wastewater Treatment Plant, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

ETE UNIMED is a wastewater treatment facility located in the Bingen neighborhood of Petrópolis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The plant serves a small community of 368 people, reflecting its role in local sanitation infrastructure within the mountainous region of the Serra dos Órgãos. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under Brazilian regulations (CONAMA resolutions) for most inland wastewater discharges. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant discharges approximately 86.40 m³/day of treated effluent. The treated effluent from ETE UNIMED likely flows into local watercourses that drain into the Paraíba do Sul River basin, a major river system supplying water to Rio de Janeiro state. The downstream environment supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and urban use. Proper treatment is essential to protect water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.

The plant's discharge enters local streams that are part of the Paraíba do Sul River basin, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Campos dos Goytacazes. This watershed supports important ecosystems, including Atlantic Forest remnants and coastal lagoons. Secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, safeguarding downstream water quality for biodiversity and human use.