Water is a valuable resource for the existence of human life on the planet. The liquid goes through a long process before it becomes suitable for human consumption and ends up in the taps of thousands of Blumenau residents in the Itajaí Valley. Understanding its cycle, especially in the context of collection and processing, is essential to ensure quality for current and future generations.

Discover the water cycle at Blumenau – Photo: Reproduction/NDTV

To clarify how water capture and treatment works in Blumenau, ND+ is producing a series of special reports. “Sou + Consciente” is an overview of the most valuable asset on planet Earth. Content will also focus on investment and important sustainability issues.

What is the water cycle in Blumenau?

It all starts with the collection of raw water, which takes place at different points in the Itajaí Azú River, the main source of water for the municipality.

The first water collection point for ETA I supply is located near the Iron Bridge on Lages Street. The second point is at the Salto plant, which sends water to ETA II, which accounts for 70% of the city’s territory, on Bahia Street. In addition, there are points in Ribeirão Garcia for ETA III, on Santa Maria and Progresso streets and in Ribeirão Itupava Rega for ETA IV in the Vila Itupava area.

View of the tanks of ETA 2, Blumenau’s main wastewater treatment plant – Archive/Michelle Lamin/PMB

Water treatment plant, ETA III – Michel Lamin/PMB/ND

ETA IV, in the area of ​​Vila Itupava – Information disclosure/Blumenau City Hall/ND

Salto Plant, the first hydroelectric power plant on the Itajai-Azú River – Reproduction/NDTV

“The most important water intake is from the Salto plant with a capacity of 800 liters per second, built in the 70s. The second most important is ETA III, in Novorossiya, with a capacity of 300 liters per second. Here comes ETA I with a flow rate of 100 liters per second, the first sewage treatment plant in Samae, where today the Water Museum is located. And here at ETA II we have another 100 liters per second,” explained Wilson Correa, maintenance coordinator at Samae Blumenau.

To begin the cycle, the liquid travels through a pipeline until it reaches the treatment plant. The collected water cannot be consumed raw and requires purification for public consumption.

It is at this stage that the most important work of the Samae Blumenau (Municipal Autonomous Water Supply and Sewerage Service) comes into play. The water undergoes a number of treatments to reduce the concentration of impurities that may pose a health hazard.

Processing includes several steps such as coagulation, flocculation, decantation, filtration and disinfection. The goal is to provide purified and safe water for human consumption in accordance with the quality standards set by regulatory authorities.

Next, the water passes through the filtration zone and further into the rest area into the contact tank. The laboratory team conducts a thorough analysis every hour and only then distributes it to the public. From the entry of raw water into the ETA to the exit suitable for consumption, it takes about 30 minutes.

Did you know?

The water we consume is also found in streams. In Blumenau, Ribeirão Garcia also supplies the city. About 24% of the city receives water collected at the source, which passes through ETA III.

“The difference here is that we have cleaner water from the river. The Itajai-azu River, being larger, takes longer to increase turbidity as well as decrease it. But the products we use are the same, the quality is the same in the end,” explains Samae environmental technician Erasi Machado.