In 2025, Iguá Rio reached the milestone of R$1 billion invested in its concession area and announces the start of a new phase of structural works for the southwest area of Rio de Janeiro, starting in 2026.
The investments constitute an essential part of the concession contract signed with the government of the State of Rio de Janeiro, as part of the national policy of universalization of basic sanitation services. During the first years of the concession, Iguá Rio has already invested almost half of the amount planned for the first 12 years of the contract. In total, contributions will reach 2.7 billion reais over 35 years, benefiting more than 1.2 million people in 19 neighborhoods in the southwest zone of Rio, in addition to the municipalities of Miguel Pereira and Paty do Alferes.
Deliveries made in 2025 by Iguá Rio comply with the guidelines established by the State Government to expand wastewater coverage, improve water quality and environmental recovery of strategic water bodies.
“We are opening a new chapter for sanitation. These investments are not just infrastructure works, they are deliveries that bring more dignity to communities, increase water security and protect the environment,” says Flávio Vaz, general director of Iguá Rio.
Among the main deliveries of the year is the completion of the recovery, modernization and expansion of ETE Barra, increasing its processing capacity by 50%. Thanks to an investment of 170 million reais, all stages of wastewater treatment have been improved, notably by increasing the number of decanters; Complete modernization of the sludge treatment system; Expansion of preliminary treatment with an increase in guardrails and sandboxes. The works already take into account the additional loads of the new CTS and provide operational security for the planned extensions of the wastewater collection network in the South-West zone in the coming decades.
Together for the life of Lagoas
With a total investment of 250 million reais, the Jacarepaguá Lagoon Complex revitalization program has already displaced 1 million m³ of sediment – the equivalent of 400 Olympic swimming pools – and will continue until it reaches 2.3 million m³.
In addition to dredging, Iguá Rio is revitalizing mangrove areas and has already reclaimed 21 hectares since 2022 (the equivalent of 30 football fields). Investing in mangrove areas helps restore coastal ecosystems capable of capturing – and sustainably storing – up to 1,000 tonnes of carbon per hectare, helping to mitigate climate change.
Progress has also been recorded in dissolved oxygen measurements, increasing by more than 400% in areas already dredged, which has supported the return of biodiversity, including fish and birds such as the spoonbill, biguatinga, blue heron and cattle heron.
The year 2026 will mark a new phase in the sanitation of the southwest area of Rio de Janeiro. Iguá Rio plans to carry out structural works for the region, such as the completion of the Jacarepaguá water reservoir, with a capacity of 20 million liters, which, together with the new pipelines, will have a direct impact on the water security of the neighborhoods in the region.
Another investment front is that of dry weather collectors (CTS), which have 126 million reais to intercept 479 liters per second of wastewater. in nature which today reach the lagoon system through storm sewers. The system will cover rivers such as Arroio Fundo, Muzema, Anil, Guerenguê, Rio das Pedras and Canal das Taxas, sending the collected wastewater to ETE Barra.
The CTS Canal das Taxas was the first to be delivered by the concessionaire and has been in operation since July 2024, eliminating 17 liters per second, or 1.5 million liters of wastewater per month. The CTS Arroio Fundo will begin operating in 2025, with 21 points capturing 218 liters per second and benefiting communities such as Cidade de Deus and Gardênia Azul, representing approximately 40% of the planned volume for the entire system. The CTS Anil and Guerenguê have work scheduled to start in 2026.
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