Petrolina, Brazil

The community of the Focolare Movement in the city of Petrolina has made some visits and has helped in an effective way (material, financial and intellectual) the Boa Nova Catholic Community recovery house located in the rural area of the city of Petrolina. The Boa Nova Catholic Community has a recovery center for chemical dependents, which is a farm maintained by donations, and by the production of food from the farm itself.

Moreover, it is worth pointing out that the place in question is located in the Brazilian semi-arid region, which is characterized by a hot climate all year round and by water shortage.
In one of these visits it was found that the domestic sewage generated is dumped, without any treatment, into a ditch to infiltrate the soil.

In view of this problematic situation, the project aims to build a domestic sewage treatment system that is viable for agricultural reuse, in the irrigation of crops such as forage palm and elephant grass, which serve as food for pigs and goats. This is of utmost importance, especially in periods of water scarcity, when besides water, food for the animals is also scarce. And finally, these animals are used to feed the people in recovery and the workers at the recovery center.

Arthur Ramalho and Adler Santana

Mission

To build a domestic sewage treatment system for agricultural reuse, to foster the sustainability of the recovery center of the Boa Nova Catholic Community in the Brazilian semiarid region.

Main Goals

• Design a low-cost sewage treatment system that meets the standards for agricultural reuse.
• Contribute to the environmental, economic and social sustainability of a recovery center for chemical dependents.

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This project is part of the Seed Funding Program.