Basic Sanitation in Porto Velho: the worst Brazilian Capital in this Area

Abstract

Basic sanitation, consisting of water supply, sanitary sewage, stormwater drainage and solid waste management, is fundamental for the quality of life of the population, reduction of public health expenditures, as well as contributing to the attraction of investments. In Brazil, the progress of these services to reach the goal of universalization is modest and Porto Velho, capital of Rondônia and located in the Brazilian Amazon, is against this advance. Its indicators show that among the 100 largest Brazilian cities in terms of population (including all capitals), its ranking of sanitation is the worst of all. This paper presents several data on sanitation in Porto Velho, comparing the evolution of its sanitation ranking and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ranking from 2003 to 2016, the consequences of the deficiency of these services and analyzes of current investments compared to the goals established for the universalization of sanitation in the municipality. Driven in recent years, mainly by the construction of two large hydropower plants, the population and its GDP grew, but sanitation did not follow this evolution as it should. The conclusion was that there are several problems due to the deficiency of sanitation in the city and the investments planned will not be enough to reach the goal of universalization, needing to raise more resources and prioritize the effective execution of the works contracted.