The Santos Beaches Recovery Program

Problem Overview:

Coastal and water pollution due to sewage discharge from illegal drainage pipes

Sewage discharge from illegal drainage pipes caused pervasive coastal and water pollution in the city of Santos, Brazil. Erosion of the local tourist industry then caused a deep recession in the 1970s.

Background:

The goal of the Santos Beach Recovery Program was to eliminate contamination of Santos beaches and rebuild the local tourist economy in two phases over a four year period. The first phase includes rerouting the contaminated water in stormwater canals from the ocean and into sewage treatment plants. The second phase involves improving the water quality in stormwater canals by identifying and eliminating illegal waste drains.

In order to ensure that water quality would be improved through the elimination of illegal waste water drains, University students inspected over 31,000 properties for illegal drain pipes. The owner of the building would pay municipal fines if, after 15 days, the problem had not been corrected. The total program cost amounted to $195,000 USD. Cooperation between city and state level governments for sewage drainage proved to be crucial. Furthermore, local participation and involvement of the University community and other local organizations was imperative to build public support.

As a way to evaluate the efficacy of the program in ensuring improved water quality, the city also opened a water quality laboratory as part of a long term monitoring device. Between 1991 and 1993, the program produced significant improvements in water quality at the ocean beaches. By the end of the program, there proved to be a 50% reduction in fecal coliform levels and were considered unsuitable for bathing only 32% of the time compared to 93% in 1989. In addition, the program provided employment for a number of University students, improved coastal areas, and promoted the tourist industry for long-term economic benefits.

Contacts:

Municipality of Santos
Jose Eduardo de Campos Siqueira
Environmental Secretary
Praca dos Expedicionarios
10 11010-900 Santos, SP, Brazil
Telephone 55-132/35-5684
Fax 55-132/35-1334

Information Date: 1997-01-01
Information Source: Sustainable Development Success Stories, United Nations Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development