ETE Peixinhos Wastewater Treatment Plant, Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil

ETE Peixinhos is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Peixinhos neighborhood of Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil. It serves an estimated population of 45,675 as part of the metropolitan region of Recife, one of Brazil's largest urban areas. The plant is operated by the state water utility Compesa. As a plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration in Brazil, ETE Peixinhos operates under the national regulatory framework established by the National Environmental Council (CONAMA) and the National Water Agency (ANA). Brazilian regulations require secondary treatment for most urban wastewater discharges, with more stringent standards for water bodies classified as sensitive. The treated effluent from ETE Peixinhos ultimately discharges into the Atlantic Ocean via the local drainage network. The plant is situated within 50 km of the coast, placing it in a coastal watershed that drains into the South Atlantic. This region supports diverse marine ecosystems, including coral reefs and mangroves, which are sensitive to nutrient pollution from urban runoff and wastewater discharges.

ETE Peixinhos discharges into the coastal watershed of the Recife metropolitan area, which drains into the South Atlantic Ocean. The receiving waters include the Beberibe and Capibaribe rivers, which flow through Recife and Olinda before reaching the Atlantic. This coastal zone supports ecologically sensitive habitats such as mangroves and estuaries that provide nursery grounds for fish and crustaceans. Nutrient loading from wastewater can contribute to eutrophication in these nearshore waters, affecting water quality and marine biodiversity.