ETE Bandeira Branca - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Jacareí, São Paulo

ETE Bandeira Branca is a wastewater treatment plant located in the São Silvestre de Jacareí district of Jacareí, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The plant serves a population of approximately 4,136 people, making it a small-scale facility within the metropolitan region of Vale do Paraíba e Litoral Norte. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process that removes organic matter and suspended solids. Secondary treatment is typical for plants of this size in Brazil. The plant discharges 362.00 m³/day of treated effluent, and its operational status is active. The treated effluent from ETE Bandeira Branca is discharged into local water bodies that eventually flow into the Paraíba do Sul River basin, a major river system in southeastern Brazil. This river is vital for water supply, agriculture, and industry in the region, and its downstream reaches support diverse aquatic ecosystems before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Campos dos Goytacazes.

The plant's discharge contributes to the Paraíba do Sul River basin, which drains into the Atlantic Ocean. This basin is ecologically significant, supporting a variety of fish species and providing water for millions of people. The region's Atlantic Forest biome, though fragmented, still harbors important biodiversity. Proper treatment helps protect downstream water quality and aquatic habitats.