Transforming Urban Water Management: A Decentralized and Nature-Based Approach in São Paulo, Brazil
A. Jakubauskaite (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)
Ulf Hackauf – Mentor (TU Delft - Environmental Technology and Design)
M. de Kreuk – Mentor (TU Delft - Water Management)
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Abstract
The São Paulo Water Center thesis investigates decentralized, hybrid water infrastructure as a model for resilient, equitable urban water management in megacities. Against the backdrop of São Paulo’s intensifying droughts, floods, and infrastructure inequities—highlighted by the 2014–2015 Cantareira crisis and pollution in key reservoirs—the project proposes a multifunctional facility that integrates rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, constructed wetlands, and nutrient recovery within a multimodal transit hub.
A case study in a peripheral basin near Billings and Guarapiranga demonstrates the system’s technical performance: a hybrid treatment train processing up to 136,000 L/day, achieving over 70% reduction in municipal water demand and 65% greywater reuse. Visible tanks, interpretive pathways, and real-time dashboards transform infrastructure into an educational resource, increasing water literacy and willingness to adopt decentralized solutions among diverse user groups.
The thesis introduces a transfer–adapt–defer matrix guiding replication across schools, parks, transit stations, and heritage sites. Findings confirm that decentralized, visible water systems can enhance climate resilience, mobility equity, and public engagement. Recommendations include updating municipal regulations to streamline decentralized approvals, and implementing comprehensive monitoring to support continuous improvement. This work offers a replicable framework for embedding sustainable water infrastructure into public architecture, advancing urban water stewardship in São Paulo and beyond.