ETE Barroquinha Wastewater Treatment Plant - Barroquinha, Ceará, Brazil

ETE Barroquinha is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Barroquinha, a municipality in the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. The plant serves a population of 2,418 residents, placing it in the small-agglomeration category under Brazilian sanitation regulations. It operates with secondary treatment, which is the minimum standard required for urban wastewater in Brazil under the National Environmental Council (CONAMA) resolutions. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes such as activated sludge or aerated lagoons to reduce organic matter and suspended solids. The plant discharges a daily volume of 172.45 cubic meters of treated wastewater. As a small-scale facility, it is subject to state-level environmental licensing and monitoring by the Ceará environmental agency (SEMACE). The treated effluent from ETE Barroquinha is discharged into local water bodies that drain into the Atlantic Ocean via the coastal watershed of northeastern Brazil. The region is part of the semi-arid Caatinga biome, where water resources are scarce and sensitive to pollution. Proper treatment helps protect downstream aquatic ecosystems and supports water quality for local communities.

The plant's discharge enters the local drainage network that flows toward the Atlantic coast of Ceará. The receiving water bodies are part of the semi-arid Caatinga biome, characterized by intermittent rivers and seasonal streams. Downstream environments include coastal lagoons and mangroves that support diverse aquatic life and serve as important migratory corridors for birds. Protecting these waters from untreated sewage is critical for maintaining ecological balance and water availability in a region with high water stress.