ETE RECANTO Wastewater Treatment Plant, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil

ETE RECANTO is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Santa Cruz neighborhood of Cuiabá, the capital of Mato Grosso state in Brazil's Centro-Oeste region. The plant serves a small population of 124 people, reflecting its role in a localized community within the broader Cuiabá metropolitan area. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment process for municipal wastewater in Brazil. Under Brazil's National Environmental Council (CONAMA) regulations, secondary treatment is required for most urban wastewater discharges to protect water quality. The treated effluent from ETE RECANTO likely enters a local watercourse that drains into the Cuiabá River, a major tributary of the Paraguay River basin. This basin is part of the Pantanal, one of the world's largest tropical wetlands and a critical ecosystem for biodiversity. The plant's secondary treatment helps reduce organic load and nutrients, supporting the health of downstream aquatic habitats.

ETE RECANTO discharges into a local stream that flows into the Cuiabá River, which is part of the Paraguay River basin. This basin ultimately drains into the Pantanal, a vast floodplain ecosystem that supports diverse aquatic life, including fish, birds, and reptiles. The plant's secondary treatment helps mitigate nutrient pollution, which is important for preventing eutrophication in the sensitive Pantanal wetlands.