Implementation of Decentralized Sanitation Systems with Nature-Based Technologies: Advantages and Challenges in Rural Areas, Slums and Urban Communities

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.3174222421083

• Palavras-chave: Nature-Based Solutions. Basic sanitation. Sewage service. Individual and decentralized sewage systems. Slums and urban communities.

• Keywords: Nature-Based Solutions. Basic sanitation. Sewage service. Individual and decentralized sewage systems. Slums and urban communities.

• Abstract:

  There is a growing gap in basic sanitation services in Brazil, highlighting the notable inequality in access to these services, especially in less favored territories. According to the 2022 Demographic Census, almost 50 million Brazilians live in households that use precarious sanitation resources. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are presented as a way to interfere in sanitation in rural areas, slums and urban communities, since they use natural processes to solve problems for which traditional solutions are unfeasible. 

  This study aims to present 16 individual decentralized sewage systems as alternatives to contribute to solving the lack of basic sanitation and show the advantages of implementing these NBS for sanitation in rural areas, slums and urban communities. Such solutions can meet sanitation needs in a sustainable way, using natural processes and local technological resources, while respecting ecological cycles and promoting environmental, social and economic benefits. We adopted a Critical Analysis approach, based on a bibliographic review of works and research related to the field of study. Funasa (2015), Tonetti et al. (2018) and Vieira (2020) present NBS with individual and decentralized sewage solutions. This approach allows us to verify the patterns, benefits and limitations of these solutions. This work contributes to the understanding of the relevance of these alternatives in promoting health, mitigating social inequalities and providing sustainable sanitation.