Summary
The Aquapolo Ambiental project will promote a more sustainable water management in the ABC Paulista region, where the current water availability is less than 10% of the minimum rate deemed appropriate by the UN (2,500 m³/person/year). It will process domestic sewage generated in the ABC basin, resulting in high quality industrial water for use in the Capuava Petrochemical Complex, which is currently the biggest consumer of potable water in the region. As such, it will greatly improve fresh water availability in the area by saving around 2,58 billions of liters of potable water per month – or the equivalent water consumption of more than 500,00 habitants. It will also reduce the amount of pollutants released into the water due to the addition of a tertiary sewage treatment system capable of eliminating 584,000 kg/ year of ammonia and 31,390 kg/ year of phosphorus received on Tietê River. Finally, the project will stimulate growth and development in the area by generating about 800 new jobs during construction and 50 new jobs during operations.
Research director
Dr. Andreas Georgoulias
Research core team
Cristina Contreras, ENV-SP • Judith Rodriguez, ENV-SP
Case study written by
Rahissa Melo, Fullbright Scholar
Editors
Laurel Schwab, Masters in Urban Planning 2016 • Francisco Quiñones, Master in Architecture II 2014
