Solid wastes drained in an urban river sub-basin

Abstract

Inadequate disposal of solid wastes in urbanised areas may cause water body pollution and the obstruction of drainage canals. This may lead to floods, health problems and economic impacts. The study aimed at quantifying and qualifying the solid wastes transported in a river sub-basin and relating them to rainfall data. A gravimetric analysis of the urban solid wastes captured showed that they were constituted by 73% organic matter and 27% inorganic matter, and that 14% of the volume retained was plastic. The results observed showed major human interference in the basin and the environmental risks to the Esperança stream. The development of tools to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of actions generates information which will help the municipal managers' decision-making process.

Keywords:

• urban drainage
• urban solid waste
• quantification
• qualification
• forecast