ETE CENTAL Wastewater Treatment Plant, Jacareí, São Paulo, Brazil

ETE CENTAL is a wastewater treatment plant located in Jacareí, within the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The facility serves a population equivalent of approximately 108,554, placing it in the medium-to-large agglomeration category for Brazilian wastewater infrastructure. Its location in the Paraíba do Sul river basin positions it within a region of significant industrial and urban development. As a plant serving over 100,000 people, ETE CENTAL is subject to Brazil's CONAMA Resolution 430/2011 and state-level environmental standards, which mandate secondary treatment or equivalent for such agglomerations. Regulatory requirements for this scale typically include biological treatment followed by disinfection to protect receiving water quality. The treated effluent from ETE CENTAL is discharged into the Paraíba do Sul River system, which flows through the Vale do Paraíba region and ultimately reaches the Atlantic Ocean near Campos dos Goytacazes. This river is a critical water source for multiple municipalities and supports diverse aquatic ecosystems, including migratory fish species. The plant's performance is therefore important for maintaining downstream water quality and ecological balance.

ETE CENTAL discharges into the Paraíba do Sul River, a major watercourse in southeastern Brazil that flows through São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro states before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean. The river supports a variety of aquatic life and provides drinking water for millions of people. The plant's location in an industrialized region means its effluent quality is crucial for preventing nutrient enrichment and protecting downstream ecosystems, including coastal habitats near the river mouth.