ETE VILA DO MATADOURO - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Quaraí, Brazil

ETE VILA DO MATADOURO is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Quaraí, a city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The plant serves a population of approximately 2,282 residents, placing it in the small agglomeration category under Brazilian regulatory frameworks. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required for urban wastewater in Brazil under CONAMA Resolution 430/2011 and other national regulations. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant has a reported discharge volume of 345.60 cubic meters per day. The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that ultimately drain into the Uruguay River basin, a major transboundary river system forming the border between Brazil and Argentina. The Uruguay River flows southward to join the Rio de la Plata estuary, supporting diverse aquatic ecosystems and providing water for agriculture and communities downstream.

The plant discharges into the Uruguay River basin, which flows through the Pampa biome and eventually reaches the Rio de la Plata estuary. This watershed supports a variety of fish species and migratory birds, and the river is an important water source for irrigation and livestock. The secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient and organic pollution, protecting downstream water quality in this ecologically sensitive region.