University of São Paulo: Lack of Sanitation Costs Brazil Millions in Healthcare Expenditure
In the last episode celebrating World Water Day , on March 22, Rádio USP presents an analysis of the potential wasted by Brazil by not capitalizing on financial resources through the use of sanitary sewage, while spending millions on treating diseases resulting from the lack of basic sanitation.
The incidence of hospitalizations in Brazil due to diseases related to contaminated water, due to the lack of adequate treatment, reached the mark of 12.46 cases for every 10 thousand inhabitants, resulting in an approximate cost of R$ 99 million to public coffers, according to data of the Information Technology Department of the Unified Health System (Datasus). These numbers, although referring to 2017, highlight the significant economic impact caused by the lack of universalization of basic sanitation in the country, which translates into the lack of access to piped drinking water for 32 million Brazilians and the absence of waste collection and treatment systems. sewage for more than 92 million people.
Professor Giovana Tommaso, from the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA) at USP in Pirassununga, regrets that the sewage treatment rate in relation to the amount collected decreased between 2015 and 2018, due to the increase in collection being greater than in treatment. She emphasizes that, although it cannot be generalized, maintaining current investments, universal collection could be achieved around 2030, while universal treatment would only be possible around 2060.
Brazil continues to face high costs to correct the problems arising from the lack of universal basic sanitation, highlighting the lack of understanding by Brazilian authorities about the urgent need to resolve this issue. According to the professor, investments in sanitation and research are insufficient to solve this serious problem, both in terms of public and environmental health.
For the professor, it is essential that representatives in public power are serious individuals, committed to adequately addressing the issue of sanitary sewage, which is of public interest, establishing a more viable schedule. She emphasizes that it is not enough to just talk about the need to meet the demands of the United Nations (UN), which are legitimate, but it is crucial to understand our own local peculiarities and needs.
Turn loss into profit
In this context, Brazil misses a valuable opportunity by not using organic matter from domestic and agro-industrial sewage to generate profit instead of loss. Giovana highlights the importance of this organic matter, highlighting its potential in the production of biogas. In large stations, biogas can be converted into electrical energy and integrated into the distribution network, while in smaller installations, even when it is not economically viable, it can be used as a heat source to disinfect by-products such as sludge. Giovana also mentions the possibility of distributing biogas for use in cooking, due to its high calorific value.
As for agro-industrial wastewater or sewage, there are ample opportunities for reuse. An example, shared by the professor, is the production of organic acids from the treatment of concentrated industrial sewage, which can be used in the construction of bioplastics. These processes, as highlighted by Giovana, not only add value to the final product of the wastewater treatment plant but also promote a more sustainable approach.
In conclusion, the professor emphasizes the importance of adopting corrective measures to mitigate the damage already caused, while at the same time instigating regenerative actions in relation to the environment. “Taking care of water, an element that permeates all forms of life, is a primordial condition for our existence to be guaranteed.”