Overview
ETE Polo de Tratamento de Mangabeira serves João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, treating wastewater for approximately 248,258 people. The plant is located within 50 km of the coast, discharging into the Atlantic Ocean watershed.
ETE Polo de Tratamento de Mangabeira is a major wastewater treatment facility serving the city of João Pessoa, the capital of Paraíba state in northeastern Brazil. The plant is situated in the Mangabeira district, near the Penitenciária de Segurança Máxima Criminalista Geraldo Beltrão, and serves a population of approximately 248,258 people, classifying it as a large agglomeration under Brazilian and international standards. As a large-scale plant, it is expected to comply with Brazil's national environmental regulations, including CONAMA Resolution 430/2011, which sets effluent discharge standards. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 (likely in cubic meters per second or similar unit), indicating substantial infrastructure. Brazilian law typically requires secondary or advanced treatment for plants of this size to protect receiving waters. The plant's treated effluent ultimately drains into the Atlantic Ocean via local rivers and estuaries, given its proximity to the coast (within 50 km). This discharge supports the regional water cycle but requires careful management to prevent nutrient loading and eutrophication in coastal ecosystems. The plant plays a critical role in safeguarding the health of João Pessoa's beaches and marine biodiversity.
Environmental context
The plant's effluent flows into the Paraíba do Sul River basin or nearby coastal streams, eventually reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The receiving waters support diverse aquatic life, including mangroves and estuarine habitats that are ecologically sensitive. Proper treatment is essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect the region's coral reefs and fisheries, which are vital for local livelihoods and tourism.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in the Mangabeira district of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, near the Penitenciária de Segurança Máxima Criminalista Geraldo Beltrão.
The plant serves approximately 248,258 people, making it a large agglomeration under Brazilian and international wastewater treatment standards.
The treated effluent is discharged into local water bodies that flow into the Atlantic Ocean, given the plant's proximity to the coast (within 50 km).
The plant operates under Brazil's CONAMA Resolution 430/2011, which sets effluent quality standards for wastewater treatment plants, and is subject to state-level environmental permits from Paraíba's environmental agency.
For large agglomerations of this scale, Brazilian regulations typically require secondary treatment (biological processes) and often advanced treatment to remove nutrients, especially when discharging into sensitive coastal waters.
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