ETE CRATEUS 8 Wastewater Treatment Plant, Crateús, Ceará, Brazil

ETE CRATEUS 8 is a wastewater treatment facility located in Crateús, a municipality in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The plant serves a population of about 1,386 residents, placing it in the small-agglomeration category under Brazilian sanitation frameworks. It operates in the semi-arid climate of the Nordeste region, where water resources are particularly valuable. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required by Brazilian regulations (CONAMA resolutions) for urban wastewater before discharge into water bodies. The plant's discharge volume of 112.32 cubic meters indicates a modest scale consistent with the population served. Brazilian environmental law mandates that such facilities comply with effluent quality standards to protect receiving waters. The treated effluent from ETE CRATEUS 8 is discharged into local watercourses that ultimately drain into the Parnaíba River basin, one of the major river systems in northeastern Brazil. This basin supports diverse aquatic life and provides water for agriculture and human consumption. Proper treatment at this plant helps reduce nutrient and pathogen loads, safeguarding downstream ecosystems and communities.

The plant discharges into local streams that are part of the Parnaíba River basin, which flows northward into the Atlantic Ocean. The semi-arid climate of Ceará makes water quality crucial for both ecological health and human use. The receiving waters support a variety of fish species and are used for irrigation, so effective secondary treatment helps prevent eutrophication and protects biodiversity in this sensitive region.