One of the first industries to join the committee as a water user; representatives will tour DR’s water resource management facilities at its headquarters and celebrate the committee’s 25 years of work
Institutional Communications/Press Office
DR Aromas & Ingredients will host the 71st Ordinary General Assembly of the Itapocu River Basin and Adjacent Basins Management Committee this Thursday, September 10, at its headquarters. The meeting will bring together representatives from public agencies, civil society, and the productive sector to discuss strategic issues related to regional water resource management. The occasion will also mark the committee’s 25th anniversary.
Topics on the agenda include water policy and governance in Santa Catarina, conflicts over water use, and updates on the Operational Audit conducted by the State Court of Accounts. Following the meeting, the group will tour DR’s manufacturing facility to learn about the company’s water management and wastewater treatment systems.
DR’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) at its headquarters in Jaraguá do Sul is considered a national benchmark in wastewater management. Each year, it treats 146,000 cubic meters of wastewater, achieving 98% efficiency in removing organic load, well above the 80% level required under Brazilian regulations. In 2025, DR also implemented initiatives to reduce water consumption, including the installation of digital water meters and the use of telemetry to identify leaks and anomalies. As a result, the company maintains water consumption at 2.8 cubic meters per metric ton produced.
DR Aromas & Ingredients is located at the confluence of the Itapocu and Jaraguá rivers and was one of the first industries to join the committee as a water user. For DR, hosting the meeting is an opportunity to demonstrate how environmental management is integrated into the company’s day-to-day operations through initiatives that promote respect for and responsible use of natural resources.
The Itapocu River Basin Management Committee was established on September 4, 2001, under state legislation. Known as the “parliament of water,” it has an advisory role in managing water resources across the municipalities within the Itapocu River Basin, helping resolve conflicts and promote sustainable water use. The basin encompasses 13 municipalities: Campo Alegre, where the Itapocu River has its headwaters, and Barra Velha, where it reaches the Atlantic Ocean, as well as Corupá, Guaramirim, Jaraguá do Sul, Massaranduba, Schroeder, Araquari, Blumenau, Joinville, São Bento do Sul, São João do Itaperiú, and Balneário Barra do Sul.
