ETE Luciano Cavalcante - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Fortaleza, Ceará

ETE Luciano Cavalcante is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Genibaú neighborhood of Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará state in northeastern Brazil. The plant serves a small population of around 1,038 residents, reflecting its role in a localized community within the larger Fortaleza metropolitan area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological process required under Brazilian regulations (CONAMA resolutions) for most urban wastewater. Secondary treatment typically involves biological degradation of organic matter followed by sedimentation. The plant discharges approximately 149.26 m³/day of treated effluent. The treated effluent is discharged into the local drainage network, which ultimately flows into the Atlantic Ocean via the Cocó River or other coastal water bodies. Fortaleza's coastal environment includes estuaries and mangroves that are ecologically sensitive, and proper wastewater treatment is critical to protect these habitats from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

The plant's discharge enters the urban drainage system of Fortaleza, which flows into the Cocó River basin and eventually reaches the Atlantic Ocean. The coastal waters off Ceará support diverse marine life, including coral reefs and mangroves, which are sensitive to nutrient loading and pollution. Secondary treatment reduces organic load and pathogens, helping to mitigate eutrophication risks in the downstream estuarine and marine ecosystems.