After expedition on the Cuiabá River, Wilson Santos proposes investments in sanitation at LDO

During the plenary session, the parliamentarian criticized the lack of resources allocated to the sector in the proposal forwarded by the Executive. "One of the most important amendments proposed by us, guarantees the State's return to investing in basic sanitation. In the LDO there is not a single cent for basic sanitation. The State is washing its hands of this very important public policy", he declared.

In addition to the expansion, adaptation and improvement of the sewage system, the proposal envisages the implementation of integrated sanitation, in addition to corrective, preventive and emergency maintenance of the sewage and water supply networks. As justified in the amendment, Wilson Santos highlights that the deficiency of sanitation infrastructure directly compromises public health and environmental preservation, making investments aimed at depolluting rivers, sustainable water management and protecting the Cuiabá River Basin and the Pantanal biome essential.

Expedition – The initiative is a direct result of observations made during the 3rd River Expedition along the Cuiabá River, carried out between March 9th and 13th this year. It was approximately 900 kilometers, passing through the municipalities of Cuiabá, Várzea Grande, Rosário Oeste, Nobres, Acorizal, Chapada dos Guimarães, Santo Antônio de Leverger, Barão de Melgaço and Poconé. Along the way, a team made up of around 25 professionals listened to riverside communities, fishermen, local leaders and representatives of public institutions, in addition to recording the environmental and social conditions of the populations that directly depend on the river.

At the end of the action, Wilson Santos stated that the lack of basic sanitation had become one of the main structural problems in Baixada Cuiabana and announced that he would take the issue to the State's budget discussion. The promise, made in March, now materializes in the form of an amendment to the LDO. "The investment is ridiculous, paltry. A very serious situation that needs to be resolved. The State simply gave up on any initiative. The government's participation today in investments in basic sanitation is practically zero", he declared at the time.

One of the aspects that most caught the deputy's attention was the precariousness of access to treated water, especially among riverside communities. "The problem is very serious. Baixada Cuiabana faces a serious challenge. Many families are buying drinking water in bottles. It is ironic to consider that they live on the banks of rivers and do not have access to quality water", he lamented.

Another point observed was the large volume of sewage released directly into the waterways and the accumulation of solid waste along the Cuiabá River, especially from Várzea Grande. In Barão de Melgaço, the team found that the main water collection and treatment structure, built in 1984, remains practically unmodernized, reflecting decades of lack of public investment.

Wilson also drew attention to the low rate of sewage treatment in the metropolitan region. "In Cuiabá, there was a concession for the service and the company has already implemented more than 90% of the collection network, but we have not reached 30% of treated sewage. Families, businesses and industries have not connected to the network. This ends up flowing into the Cuiabá and Coxipó rivers, in addition to more than 20 streams in the city. If Cuiabá does not have 30% of treated sewage, Várzea Grande possibly does not reach 10%", explains.

Federal Law – In addition to the environmental recovery of Baixada Cuiabana, the proposal seeks to benefit the 142 municipalities in Mato Grosso, strengthening the implementation of Federal Law No. 11,445/2007, which establishes national guidelines for basic sanitation. The legislation provides for universal access to drinking water, sewage treatment, urban cleaning, adequate management of solid waste and determines that all municipalities draw up basic sanitation plans with short, medium and long-term goals, considered essential instruments for the effectiveness of public policies.

PLDO – In addition to the presentation of amendments by parliamentarians, the Legislative Assembly has already approved, in the first vote, Bill No. 692/2026, which establishes the Budgetary Guidelines Law for 2027. The proposal estimates a state budget of R$42.1 billion and will return to the plenary in August for a second vote.