The availability of safe
sanitation is a major global challenge, where more than a
third of the world’s population lacks access to adequate
sanitation. This problem is particularly severe in peri-urban
areas and urban slums, where lack of adequate infrastructure
is compounded by poor access to health and education
amenities.
In the
densely-populated peri-urban neighborhoods in Brazil
- like elsewhere in the developing countries - domestic liquid wastes are disposed of in latrines or septic
wells. This calls for out-of-the-box thinking on provision
of sanitation services.
This project, focused on Sao
Paulo, Brazil, investigates such an approach for provision
of adequate sanitation. The primary
catchments for the city’s water supply system (Billings and Guarapiranga resevoirs), are being quickly overrun by
unplanned urbanization. Consequences for public health are
severe: infant mortality rate (65 per 1000 in Parelheiros
and Grajaú) is much higher than in the population at large
in Brazil. Thus, the need for urgent solutions is
pronounced.
A typical
septic well (Jardim Santo Antonio)
Objectives of the project are:
