ETE APIPUCOS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Recife, Pernambuco

ETE APIPUCOS is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Apipucos neighborhood of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. It serves a small population of 1,526 residents within the Recife metropolitan region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process for removing organic matter and suspended solids. Under Brazilian regulations (CONAMA resolutions), secondary treatment is typically required for inland and coastal discharges to protect water quality. The plant handles a daily discharge volume of 181.44 m³. The treated effluent is discharged into the local watershed, which ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via the Capibaribe River system. The coastal location means the plant's discharge contributes to the nutrient and pollutant load entering the marine environment, making proper treatment essential for preserving coastal water quality and marine ecosystems.

The plant's discharge enters the Capibaribe River basin, which flows through Recife and into the Atlantic Ocean. The coastal estuary and mangrove ecosystems in the region are ecologically sensitive, supporting diverse aquatic life and serving as nursery habitats for fish and crustaceans. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to eutrophication in the coastal zone, so secondary treatment helps mitigate these impacts.