Exemption from environmental licensing for the sanitation sector does not pose risks to the environmentaccording to an assessment by Brazilian Association of Private Concessionaires of Public Water and Sewage Services (ABcon). The entity argues that the sector acts as a natural pollution mitigation agent.
Felipe Cascais, legal and legislative director at ABconstates that the sanitation sector differs from other segments of the economy due to its positive nature. “The gain in having a sewage treatment plant is much bigger than simply dumping sewage into nature without any type of treatment”, he explains.
Risks of lack of control
The expert warns of the dangers of the absence of adequate sanitation systems. According to him, the lack of control over the collection and distribution of water can result in significant damage to water resourcesincluding the possible death of rivers, springs and springs.
Cascais argues that the existence of water and sewage treatment plants is essential to avoid environmental and public health problems. “The alternative to the existence of one is irregular uncontrolled water collection or dumping of raw sewage into nature, which will generate pollution and public health problems”, he highlights.
