Case study on the use of a combined system as an intermediate solution in Brazil: cost estimate

As a developing country, Brazil has to deal with a lack of basic sanitation. One of the major challenges is the treatment of wastewater. While 94% of Brazilian municipalities have stormwater systems, only 55% are connected to a wastewater system. To help improve the current situation, this study estimates the costs for implementing an intermediate solution, which is designed to ease the transition towards a separate wastewater treatment system. This solution utilizes a combined sewer system approach in areas where stormwater systems have already been implemented. A case study was carried out assessing two possible alternatives for a wastewater treatment system with data from the city of Joinville. Both alternatives are separate systems but one has a combined system as an intermediate solution. The results show that the alternative with an intermediate combined system will reduce the short-term financial burden on governments in comparison to the separate sewer system approach.