ETE Bairro Cidadao - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Salutaris, Rio de Janeiro

ETE Bairro Cidadao is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Salutaris, a district within the municipality of Paraíba do Sul, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The plant serves a population of approximately 14,883 people, classifying it as a medium-sized facility under Brazilian sanitation standards. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the minimum level required by Brazilian regulations (CONAMA Resolution 430/2011) for most inland water bodies. With a discharge volume of 579.74 m³/day, the plant operates under the framework of Brazil's National Environmental Council (CONAMA) and state-level environmental agencies, which set effluent quality standards for BOD, COD, and nutrients. Treated effluent from ETE Bairro Cidadao is discharged into the Paraíba do Sul River basin, a major watercourse that flows through the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Minas Gerais. The river ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean near Campos dos Goytacazes. The basin supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for millions of people, making proper treatment essential for public health and ecosystem integrity.

The plant discharges into the Paraíba do Sul River basin, which flows eastward to the Atlantic Ocean. The river is a critical water source for the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan region and supports a variety of fish species and riparian habitats. Downstream areas include agricultural zones and urban centers that rely on the river for water supply, making nutrient and pathogen removal important for preventing eutrophication and safeguarding downstream communities.