Flood protection for better living conditions

2021 began with an important milestone for residents of Belém, a city in northern Brazil: two of the three stages of the big macrodrainage project in the Tucunduba Basin have been completed. An iconic project, it has been eagerly awaited by local people who have suffered for years from frequent flooding caused by heavy rains. The rectification works for the canal and urban infrastructure were delivered on January 12, the day that Belém celebrated its 405th anniversary.

Since starting to work on the project in 2012, our Urban team in Brazil has carried out hydrological and hydraulic studies and done basic design to expand drainage capacity of the basin channels. Our current mission includes technical management and site inspection, updating programme projects, expropriation of properties, and social assistance to families relocated to new housing.

The sewage treatment station and housing units are expected to be delivered this year. The third and final stage of works on the canal should be completed early next year.

According to Hélio Brazão, Tractebel project manager, “It is an honour for Tractebel to participate in this important project that aims to restore the dignity of a significant portion of the population in Belém, including neighbourhoods with extreme poverty and high crime rates. The multidisciplinary team of Tractebel in Belém, formed by engineers, technicians, administrators, and social workers, developed competent, coherent technical support for the management of this implantation, where the sense of accomplishment goes beyond simply getting the job done. It translates into the carefree smiles of children.”

Our interventions in this project deliver real progress for the lives of approximately 230 thousand people, who now have access to better living conditions, health, water supply, urban mobility, and security, in addition to adapting the use and occupation of the soil and reducing impacts on the environment. It is a concrete example of Tractebel’s ambition to help our clients, through our game-changing solutions, create a positive impact towards a sustainable world, where people, planet and profit collectively thrive.