Situation of Urban Domestic Effluent in the Alto Uruguai Microregion

Access to basic sanitation services, especially sewerage, is a fundamental condition for human survival and integrity. In the absence or insufficiency of sanitation systems, various problems associated with public health and the environment arise. In Brazil, basic sanitation is in an alarming state, with less than 50 per cent of the population having access to a sewage collection system and environmentally appropriate final disposal. This is due to poor management of public resources, with low levels of investment, a lack of inspection instruments and a lack of integrated public policies. It is therefore necessary to develop studies in this area so that the problem of sewage disposal can be resolved. This study assessed the fate of urban effluent in the Alto Uruguai (AU) micro-region, made up of 27 municipalities.