United Nations Earth Summit+5 Success Stories - Local Agenda 21 -Santos Beaches Recovery Programme

EARTH SUMMIT+5
Special Session of the General Assembly to Review and Appraise
the Implementation of Agenda 21
New York, 23-27 June 1997
SUCCESS STORIES FROM BRAZIL

Santos Beaches Recovery Programme This and other Local Agenda 21 succes story are provided by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).

Location Santos, State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Responsible organization Municipality of Santos.

Description Until 1950, Santos was the most popular beach resort on the coast of São Paulo. However, increasing levels of coastal pollution gradually eroded the local tourist economy. In the 1970s, Santos suffered from a deep economic recession due primarily to the reduction in tourism.
During this period it was generally believed that the city's water pollution problem was the result of sewage and industrial discharges from the nearby metropolitan region of São Paulo. However a survey of fecal coliform levels conducted by the city in 1990 proved this assumption incorrect. The survey showed that the major source of pollution was sewage discharges from within Santos. The city's stormwater drainage canals were carrying raw sewage to the ocean from thousands of illegal drain pipes and other deficiencies in the municipal sewage system.
The city recognized from the outset that this situation could not be rectified without intergovernmental cooperation and participation of the institutions and citizens in the community. The Santos Beaches Recovery Programme was developed as a cooperative project between the state and local governments. The first phase of the program involved diverting the contaminated water in stormwater canals from the ocean and into sewage treatment plants. The second phase involved improving the water quality in the stormwater canals by identifying and eliminating illegal waste water drains. For the implementation of this phase, the city relied on the assistance of engineering students from a local university and participants from community-based organizations. University students went door-to-door inspecting over 31,000 properties for illegal drain pipes. The owner of a building found to be in non compliance was given 15 days to correct the problem or face municipal fines. This process proved very successful.
The city also opened a water quality laboratory as part of their long-term process to monitor the effectiveness of the program.

Issues addressed Environmental and health concerns associated with poor water quality.

Objectives
To eliminate contamination of the city's beaches in a four-year period;
To re-establish the city's environmental image and rebuild the local tourist economy.

Results achieved Between 1991 and 1993 the program produced significant improvements in the water quality at the ocean beaches. By the end of the program, the beaches saw a 50% reduction in fecal coliform levels and were considered unsuitable for bathing only 32% of the time, compared to 93% in 1989.
The programme also created employment for thirty part-time university students, improved the beaches for recreation, providing long-term economic benefits to many city residents.

Lessons learned Several factors were critical to the success of this project. The cooperation established between the two levels of government responsible for the sewage and drainage within the city limits was essential. In addition, the strong partnership between the local government and the university and community organizations was fundamental in gaining public acceptance of the program and identifying illegal wastewater drains and completing the repairs necessary to remedy the situation.

Financing The programme cost approximately $195,000 USD, including the costs associated with the municipal and student staff and the new water quality laboratory.

Contact José Eduardo de Campos Siqueira, Environmental Secretary, Municipality of Santos, Praça dos Expedicionários 10, 11010-900 Santos, SP, Brazil Tel: +55-132/35-5684, Fax: +55-132/35-1334

Copyright © United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Comments and suggestions: esa@un.org
1 November 1997

	Santos Beaches Recovery Programme This and other Local Agenda 21 succes story are provided by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).
	Location	Santos, State of São Paulo, Brazil.
	Responsible organization	Municipality of Santos.
	Description	Until 1950, Santos was the most popular beach resort on the coast of São Paulo. However, increasing levels of coastal pollution gradually eroded the local tourist economy. In the 1970s, Santos suffered from a deep economic recession due primarily to the reduction in tourism. During this period it was generally believed that the city's water pollution problem was the result of sewage and industrial discharges from the nearby metropolitan region of São Paulo. However a survey of fecal coliform levels conducted by the city in 1990 proved this assumption incorrect. The survey showed that the major source of pollution was sewage discharges from within Santos. The city's stormwater drainage canals were carrying raw sewage to the ocean from thousands of illegal drain pipes and other deficiencies in the municipal sewage system. The city recognized from the outset that this situation could not be rectified without intergovernmental cooperation and participation of the institutions and citizens in the community. The Santos Beaches Recovery Programme was developed as a cooperative project between the state and local governments. The first phase of the program involved diverting the contaminated water in stormwater canals from the ocean and into sewage treatment plants. The second phase involved improving the water quality in the stormwater canals by identifying and eliminating illegal waste water drains. For the implementation of this phase, the city relied on the assistance of engineering students from a local university and participants from community-based organizations. University students went door-to-door inspecting over 31,000 properties for illegal drain pipes. The owner of a building found to be in non compliance was given 15 days to correct the problem or face municipal fines. This process proved very successful. The city also opened a water quality laboratory as part of their long-term process to monitor the effectiveness of the program.
	Issues addressed	Environmental and health concerns associated with poor water quality.
	Objectives	To eliminate contamination of the city's beaches in a four-year period; To re-establish the city's environmental image and rebuild the local tourist economy.
	Results achieved	Between 1991 and 1993 the program produced significant improvements in the water quality at the ocean beaches. By the end of the program, the beaches saw a 50% reduction in fecal coliform levels and were considered unsuitable for bathing only 32% of the time, compared to 93% in 1989. The programme also created employment for thirty part-time university students, improved the beaches for recreation, providing long-term economic benefits to many city residents.
	Lessons learned	Several factors were critical to the success of this project. The cooperation established between the two levels of government responsible for the sewage and drainage within the city limits was essential. In addition, the strong partnership between the local government and the university and community organizations was fundamental in gaining public acceptance of the program and identifying illegal wastewater drains and completing the repairs necessary to remedy the situation.
	Financing	The programme cost approximately $195,000 USD, including the costs associated with the municipal and student staff and the new water quality laboratory.
	Contact	José Eduardo de Campos Siqueira, Environmental Secretary, Municipality of Santos, Praça dos Expedicionários 10, 11010-900 Santos, SP, Brazil Tel: +55-132/35-5684, Fax: +55-132/35-1334