ETE Vila Mariana Salvador - Secondary Wastewater Treatment Plant in Salvador, Bahia

ETE Vila Mariana Salvador is a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in the Mussurunga neighborhood of Salvador, the capital of Bahia state in northeastern Brazil. The plant serves a small population of 818 residents and operates with secondary treatment, which is the standard biological treatment level required for urban wastewater in Brazil under national regulations. As a secondary treatment facility, ETE Vila Mariana Salvador removes organic matter and suspended solids through biological processes. The plant discharges approximately 88.42 m³/day of treated effluent. Brazilian environmental regulations (CONAMA resolutions) mandate that wastewater treatment plants meet effluent quality standards to protect receiving water bodies. The plant is located within 10 km of the Atlantic coast, meaning its treated effluent ultimately reaches the ocean, likely via local drainage channels or the Rio das Pedras or other small watercourses in the Salvador metropolitan area. The coastal waters of Bahia support diverse marine ecosystems, including coral reefs and mangroves, making proper treatment essential to prevent nutrient pollution and protect biodiversity.

The plant discharges into the Atlantic Ocean near Salvador, a coastal city in the Todos os Santos Bay region. The bay is a large estuarine system that supports mangroves, seagrass beds, and diverse fish populations. Treated effluent from the plant contributes to the overall nutrient load in the coastal zone, where secondary treatment helps reduce organic pollution but may still require additional nutrient removal to prevent eutrophication in sensitive marine areas.