Government of Pará announces the start of sanitation works in Vila da Barca, Belém
Community with about 5,000 residents is the first to receive historic investments with the new concession of water and sewage services in the State
On this Monday (28), residents of Vila da Barca, one of the largest stilt communities in Latin America, in Belém, witnessed the start of works that will expand the supply of drinking water and implement systems for collecting and treating sewage in the masonry and stilt houses of the region. The initiative marks the first investment made under the new management model for basic sanitation in Pará.
“We are taking a fundamental step to expand sanitation in the State. And we started this transformation in Vila da Barca, based on the new concession model for water and sewage services. The works have already begun, and by COP 30, water supply in the community will be a reality in all homes,” said Governor Helder Barbalho.
The works will benefit more than 1,400 residences, reaching about 5,000 residents in the region. The commitment was made this month by Governor Helder Barbalho during the signing of the contract with the company Águas do Pará, the winner of the concession to operate water and sewage services in 99 municipalities in Pará.
Dignity and sustainability - Designed to promote health, dignity, and environmental preservation, the sanitation project being implemented in Vila da Barca includes the installation of 2.3 kilometers of elevated water networks, adapted to the flooding conditions of the area, as well as 1.7 km of sewage networks. The system also includes a new water pipeline and a modern treated water pumping system.
Each residence will have an individual water meter, ensuring fairness in measuring and charging for consumption. All residents will be entitled to the Social Tariff on water and sewage bills, which guarantees more savings and access to the service with dignity.
The new water supply system is expected to be completed by October of this year. The sewage system is expected to be delivered in April 2026.
Job creation and social inclusion
The new concession of sanitation services is also boosting the economy and driving job creation in Pará. The company Águas do Pará, responsible for operations in 99 municipalities, has already opened 220 positions for hiring local labor.
Part of these opportunities has been prioritized for residents of Vila da Barca, as a way to stimulate the community's economy and ensure that the beneficiaries themselves actively participate in the transformations in their region.
In addition to the works, the project includes social actions, such as employability workshops and free access to more than 60 professional courses with certification, offered by the company responsible for executing the services.
“This project goes far beyond the construction. It is a social transformation that the Aegea group, of which Águas do Pará is a part, has carried out in other States where it operates. It is the first of many actions by the concessionaire in Pará, where the goal is to prove that it is possible to make this type of partnership with the community and transform benefits, sometimes invisible, into tangible results for the population,” concluded André Facó, CEO of Águas do Pará.
Historic investment in sanitation
The works in Vila da Barca mark the beginning of a cycle of investments in the sanitation sector in Pará. According to the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), the 99 municipalities covered by the new contract will receive, together, more than R$ 15.2 billion in investments throughout the concession. The expectation is that more than 4.3 million residents of Pará will be directly benefited, with positive impacts on public health, the environment, and the quality of life of the population.
With the new concession, the Government of Pará takes a decisive step towards the universalization of sanitation, which aims for goals of 99% coverage of drinking water and 90% collection and treatment of sewage.
