ETE CRATEUS 12 - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Crateús, Ceará

ETE CRATEUS 12 is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Crateús, a city in the state of Ceará, northeastern Brazil. The plant serves a small population of 959 residents, reflecting its role in a smaller urban agglomeration within the semi-arid Sertão region. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level required under Brazilian regulations (CONAMA resolutions) for most urban wastewater. With a discharge volume of 77.76 m³/day, it operates at a scale typical for small communities. Brazilian environmental law mandates that treated effluent meet quality standards before release, and plants of this size are often subject to state-level permitting through the environmental agency of Ceará (SEMACE). The treated effluent from ETE CRATEUS 12 is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Poti River basin, a tributary of the Parnaíba River. The Parnaíba River flows northward to the Atlantic Ocean, forming the border between Maranhão and Piauí. The plant's operation helps protect downstream water quality in a region where water resources are critical for agriculture and human consumption.

The plant discharges into the Poti River basin, part of the larger Parnaíba River system that flows into the Atlantic Ocean. This semi-arid region experiences seasonal droughts, making water quality management crucial for local ecosystems and communities. The treated effluent supports base flow in receiving streams, which are important for aquatic life and irrigation.