| Abstract |
The surrender of environment and landscape to the pressure of fast rural-urban transition has labelled Sao Paulo as the 'Metropolis of Polluted Waters'worldwide. How can the largest city in Latin America consider this issue of metropolitan dimensions: recover its large sewage rivers and reframe for resilience? The Jaguare Creek Revitalization Project understands that this recovery depends on a fractionated, but integrated performance over all territories that generate pollution to water resources. Jaguare Creek watershed corresponds to only 1/10 of the total 270km(2) drainage area of Pinheiros River, one of the two main watercourses crossing Greater Sao Paulo and that is channeled in all its 25Km length. Its waters carry significant load of domestic and industrial sewage and other non-point sources as well. Regarding the failure of all previous public efforts, reversing this scenario requires innovation and an integrated system made of coordinated actions and based on technology, urban planning and advocacy. In order to restore this pilot watershed, the Jaguare Project is coordinated by Aguas Claras do Rio Pinheiros Organization and developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers including engineers, landscape architects, urban planners, managers, among others, acting in two complementary fronts: 1.Interception and combined treatment of stormwater and sewage illegally discharged into underground drainage system; 2.Non-source point pollution control and runoff management through a Green Stormwater Infrastructure. For this second front, pollutant loads will be measured by runoff samples collected in predefined catchment areas. By associating the sample analysis results with the land use typologies within these areas, surface pollution loads may be quantified for the whole Jaguare watershed. The sizing of the problem will lead to an optimized distribution of stormwater management LID structures. Rain gardens, bioswales, retention ponds, green roofs and pervious pavements will convey, filter, retain and infiltrate stormwater, respecting the most suitable drainage function to physical and environmental conditions. They will form a green network for urban drainage with greater bond with nature processes, landscape and people. By restoring creeks, Sao Paulo reclaims its rivers. By saving the rivers, the city will move towards transformation. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. |