ETE UNIVILLAS Wastewater Treatment Plant, Lauro de Freitas, Bahia, Brazil

ETE UNIVILLAS is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Vilas do Atlântico neighborhood of Lauro de Freitas, Bahia, Brazil. The plant serves a population of about 11,825 residents within the Salvador metropolitan region, a densely populated coastal area in northeastern Brazil. The plant provides secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment required under Brazilian regulations (CONAMA resolutions) for urban wastewater. This level of treatment significantly reduces organic matter and suspended solids before discharge. The plant's discharge volume is reported at 135.92 (likely in cubic meters per day or similar unit), indicating a moderate-scale operation consistent with its population served. Treated effluent from ETE UNIVILLAS is discharged into the Atlantic Ocean, as the plant is located within 10 km of the coast. The receiving waters are part of the Todos os Santos Bay system, an ecologically important estuarine area that supports diverse marine life, including mangroves and coral reefs. Proper treatment is critical to protect these coastal ecosystems and public health in the region.

The plant discharges into the Atlantic Ocean via the Todos os Santos Bay watershed, one of Brazil's largest and most biodiverse bays. The bay supports extensive mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, providing nursery habitats for fish and crustaceans. Secondary treatment helps reduce nutrient loading and organic pollution, which is essential to prevent eutrophication and maintain water quality in this sensitive coastal environment.