ERQ SUL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil

ERQ SUL is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Santa Maria district of Aracaju, the capital of Sergipe state in northeastern Brazil. The plant serves a population of approximately 28,743 residents, placing it in the medium-agglomeration category under Brazilian regulatory frameworks. Its location near the Atlantic coast influences its operational and environmental context. As a plant serving a medium-sized urban population, ERQ SUL is subject to Brazil's national environmental standards, which require adequate treatment to protect water quality. Plants of this scale typically employ secondary treatment to meet discharge criteria. The designed capacity is reported as 1.00, though the unit is unspecified, indicating the plant's intended scale. The plant's discharge ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean via the local drainage network, which includes rivers and estuaries in the Sergipe region. This coastal setting underscores the importance of effective treatment to safeguard marine ecosystems and comply with Brazil's water quality regulations, such as CONAMA resolutions, which set limits on pollutants to prevent eutrophication and protect aquatic life.

ERQ SUL discharges into the local watershed that drains into the Atlantic Ocean near Aracaju. The receiving waters include the Sergipe River estuary, which supports diverse aquatic life and is an important ecological zone for fish and migratory birds. Protecting this coastal environment from nutrient pollution and pathogens is critical for maintaining water quality and ecosystem health.