"Water for All", from the government of Pará, wins 1st place in the COP+ Journey Sustainable Solutions call

The project "Water for All - Water Security and Climate Resilience on the Island of Combu", developed by the government of Pará through the State Secretariat for Environment, Climate and Sustainability (Semas), won 1st place in the Public Management category of the COP+ Journey Sustainable Solutions Call. The selection recognizes innovative initiatives that contribute to addressing climate change and promoting sustainability in different territories across the country. Implemented in the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of the island of Combu, located in the Metropolitan Region of Belém, the project stood out for providing drinking water, dignity, and quality of life to over 1,200 residents of Combu through nature-based solutions (NbS) and social technologies adapted to the Amazonian riverside reality.

With this result, the project is set to gain even more visibility in the Showcase of Sustainable Industry Cases, developed by the Fiepa System. The best will be presented at a parallel event to COP30 in November.

The initiative implements ten rainwater harvesting and treatment systems, using the PluGoW technology, which operates on solar energy and without the use of chemical products. Each system is capable of treating and storing at least five thousand liters of water, ensuring safe supply for schools, community enterprises of local socio-biodiversity, and the health unit on the island.

In addition to democratizing access to drinking water, "Water for All" also installed biodigesters in schools in the region, which transform organic waste into biogas and biofertilizers, promoting a circular economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The project also strengthens local productive chains, such as those of andiroba, açaí, and artisanal chocolate, expanding income generation opportunities and valuing the protagonism of women extractivists, who received equipment for the production of biocosmetics.

The Deputy Secretary of Environmental Management and Regularity of Semas, Rodolpho Zahluth Bastos, highlighted the transformative and collaborative nature of the initiative. "'Water for All' is a concrete example that it is possible to combine social technology, water justice, and environmental sustainability. Ensuring drinking water in the Amazon is ensuring dignity and resilience for those who live in and protect this territory. This national recognition reinforces that Pará is on the right path by building public policies with nature-based solutions centered on people," he stated.

Partnerships and expansion - The execution of the project relies on a collaborative network of partners, including the Geological Service of Brazil (SGB/CPRM); Ideflor-Bio; the city hall of Belém; NUMA/UFPA; Pluvi Intelligent Environmental Solutions and companies such as ENGIE, Mizu Cimentos, and Cidade Limpa Ambiental. Financial support comes from New Fortress Energy.

According to Semas, the model has high potential for replicability in other Amazonian communities and insular regions of the country, due to its operational simplicity, low cost, and energy autonomy. "Our goal is for the Combu experience to inspire new actions throughout the state, connecting communities, universities, and governments around sustainable and low-carbon solutions," added Rodolpho Zahluth.

The "Water for All" is part of the Regulariza Pará Program and is linked to the territorial and environmental planning component of the implementation of the State Policy on Climate Change.