Cooperation between Embrapa and Coopercitrus expands access to sanitation in rural areas

Embrapa Instrumentação (São Carlos - SP) and the Coopercitrus Credicitrus Foundation (FCC) joined forces to implement a broad research project, aiming to balance agricultural production with environmental preservation. To this end, they signed an agreement that includes carrying out diversified actions in rural basic sanitation in the FCC area, in Bebedouro (SP), such as the installation of technologies and studies on the reuse of biofertilizer in citrus farming.

Signed in January this year, the technical cooperation involves the use of two technological solutions, already consolidated in the country, and based on the criteria of sustainability, low cost, easy application and replicability, which characterize the Biodigester Septic Tank and the Filtering Garden. Developed by Embrapa Instrumentação, the first technology is intended for treating toilet sewage, while the second was adapted to clean up wastewater or gray water, coming from sinks, showers and tanks.

The Biodigester Septic Tank system, composed of sequential anaerobic fermentation tanks, with more than 20 years of benefits generated for the rural population, will receive and treat sewage produced by people who live, work, or use the facilities of four sectors of the Foundation Coopercitrus Credititrus. Additionally, other treatment technologies may be adopted where the Biodigester Septic Tank cannot be used, as different sewage network configurations are found on site.

Studies and training

The agreed global value for carrying out the “Research, development and transfer actions of social technologies for basic rural sanitation” is a little more than R＄ 1 million, however, without transferring resources from one party to another.

The value corresponds to expenses with inputs, infrastructure, personnel, services, materials, grants that the institutions will support directly with their participation in the project. With an execution period of 36 months, the project will develop studies aimed at developing protocols for the reuse of treated sewage effluent in citrus and family farming areas.

Researcher Wilson Tadeu Lopes da Silva, responsible for the project at Embrapa Instrumentação, explains that agronomic trials will be carried out to reuse the biofertilizer in citrus farming, aiming at fertigation, following the example of experiments already carried out in corn cultivation in São Carlos (SP).

For this to happen, he explains that all effluents to be used in the tests will be chemically and microbiologically characterized, for better efficiency of use and safety in application.

“The proposal with this is to increase the life cycle of water and nutrients with safety for workers, food and the environment. Previous experiments carried out by Embrapa and international texts show that this is perfectly possible. A management protocol for citrus will be one of the project’s deliverables”, states the researcher.

Technological showcase

Another objective of the cooperation is the training of multiplier agents in rural basic sanitation, aiming at training human resources on the subject and future promotion of public policies. The training will be carried out at the Coopercitrus Credicitrus Foundation once a year and involving between 50 and 70 people, including FCC employees, producers and extension workers.

“The sanitation system facilities at the Coopercitrus Credicitrus Foundation should also be used as demonstration units of good sanitary practices, for cooperative members and other interested parties”, says the researcher.

With a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from the University of São Paulo and a stint at the Université de Nantes (France), Wilson Tadeu says that studies are planned on the residues resulting from the washing of equipment used in the application of agricultural pesticides.

“Based on this study, with knowledge of the concentration and main classes of pesticide residues, a proposal for a treatment system will be developed. Removal efficiency will be taken into account, in addition to operational simplicity and maintenance costs, with the first option being the use of constructed wetlands, in the format of a Filter Garden”, assesses the researcher.

FCC superintendent, Oscar Franco Filho, says that there is no doubt about the relevance of the project for the health and well-being of people who live in the countryside and for the protection and preservation of the environment.

“We aim to prevent diseases, supply drinking water and a sewage treatment system, in addition to the adequate management of solid waste, thus contributing to the quality and productivity of agricultural production. Our proposal is also to disseminate the results of this technology to the members of Coopercitrus, Credicitrus and other interested farmers", he adds.

Simplicity and efficiency

The Biodigester Septic Tank is a simple social technology, easy to install, designed to treat sanitary sewage efficiently in rural properties and isolated areas. The technology was recognized with the Banco do Brasil Foundation Award in 2003 and has already benefited almost 60 thousand people with the installation of 12 thousand units in 260 municipalities in the five regions of Brazil, since it was created in 2001.

The rural basic sanitation system also consists of the Filtering Garden, a small waterproof lake, which contains stones, sand and aquatic plants. It is easy to maintain and is intended for treating sewage from sinks, tanks and showers, rich in soaps, detergents, food waste and fats -- the so-called “gray water”. The technology was adapted by Embrapa to complement the use of the Biodigester Septic Tank and the Embrapa Chlorinator.