Conclusion

Community capacity building and participatory visioning addresses the lack of basic sanitation infrastructure in Ocupação Anchieta. Currently, not everyone in the Occupation has access to improved sanitation. This is detrimental to public health, but also environmental health and the larger water system of São Paulo. São Paulo is not alone in tackling this issue - rapid urbanization has led to many cities around the globe needing to innovate to solve these issues. Sewage Free Anchieta will encourage the Occupation to strive for a sustainable community.

220 Site Image Illustrating the Lack of Stormwater Management Options.

Addressing the lack of improved sanitation is of utmost importance in Ocupação Anchieta. While sanitation is not completely ignored in the Occupation, there is a great range in how sewage is handled, ranging from direct release to municipal connections. Some houses are directly releasing sewage into the environment. This is both a public health and environmental health issue for both the Occupation and the larger ecosystem of São Paulo.

This range presents an institutional challenge for the Occupation to begin to address sanitation infrastructure. Without understanding the current state of sewage infrastructure, it is a challenge for the Occupation to efficiently improve the scenario. To solve this problem and increase organizational capacity, this section of the action plan proposes development of a new position in the Movement of sewage champion. This volunteer(s) job would conduct an infrastructure survey, co-develop a sanitation education campaign, and work with Occupation residents to improve the state of infrastructure overall.

Participatory community meetings led by both Taubman Team and the sewage champions will increase understanding of the financial and social capacity of the Occupation. Also, how the residents envision sanitation in the Occupation moving forward. Prototypes for a decentralized sanitation system will be developed after visioning and tested to achieve optimum design. The organizational capacity and community visioning of Sewage Free Anchieta will become a pillar of a sustainable model community.