ETE Marechal Dutra - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte

ETE Marechal Dutra is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in the Passagem de Pedra area of Mossoró, a city in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The plant serves a population of about 4,870 people, classifying it as a small-scale treatment facility within the region's sanitation infrastructure. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard level required under Brazilian regulations (CONAMA resolutions) for most inland wastewater discharges. Secondary treatment typically involves biological processes to reduce organic matter and suspended solids, ensuring the effluent meets basic environmental quality standards before release. The treated wastewater is discharged into local water bodies that eventually drain into the Atlantic Ocean via the Apodi-Mossoró River basin. The plant plays a key role in protecting downstream ecosystems, including the Apodi-Mossoró estuary and coastal areas, from untreated sewage pollution.

The plant discharges into the Apodi-Mossoró River basin, which flows through the semi-arid Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil before reaching the Atlantic Ocean near the city of Mossoró. The downstream environment includes the Apodi-Mossoró estuary, a ecologically sensitive area that supports diverse aquatic life and serves as a critical habitat for migratory birds and fish species. Proper treatment at ETE Marechal Dutra helps reduce nutrient and pathogen loads entering this coastal ecosystem.