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

ETE Tijucal is a wastewater treatment plant located in Cuiabá, the capital of Mato Grosso state in Brazil. The plant serves a population of around 11,167 people, placing it in the small to medium agglomeration category. It is situated in the Cuiabá River valley, part of the broader Paraguay River basin. As a Brazilian facility, ETE Tijucal operates under national environmental regulations, including CONAMA resolutions and state-level licensing requirements. For plants of this scale, secondary treatment is typically expected to meet effluent standards for organic matter and suspended solids. It is subject to periodic monitoring by environmental agencies. The treated effluent from ETE Tijucal is discharged into the Cuiabá River, which flows into the Paraguay River and eventually reaches the Pantanal, one of the world's largest tropical wetlands. The Pantanal is an ecologically sensitive region that supports diverse aquatic life and migratory birds. Proper treatment is essential to protect this unique ecosystem from nutrient pollution and pathogens.

The plant discharges into the Cuiabá River, a tributary of the Paraguay River, which drains into the Pantanal wetlands. The Pantanal is a vast floodplain ecosystem that supports high biodiversity, including jaguars, capybaras, and hundreds of bird species. Nutrient loading from untreated or poorly treated wastewater can lead to eutrophication and habitat degradation in this sensitive environment.