Summer and end-of-year celebrations are synonymous with the beach in Brazil. Unfortunately, water quality along the approximately 7,400 km of coastline remains low, endangering the health of the population and harming tourism.
According to a survey carried out by Leafof the 820 beaches assessed in 2025, only 253 (30.2%) were considered suitable for swimming – the lowest number in the historic series started in 2016, excluding 2020, due to the pandemic. Those in good standing numbered 288, while 143 were poor and 136 very bad.
This year’s scenario is not so different from that observed in 2024 (255, 295, 136 and 134 respectively), but it is worse than that of 2016, where 370 beaches were good, compared to 84 bad and 119 very bad.
Beaches are classified based on measuring the density of fecal bacteria for five consecutive weeks, a criterion established by the National Environmental Council (Conama).
The problem is linked to the poor sanitation system and can be made worse by an increase in the volume of rain over short periods – a weather event that has become more frequent due to climate change caused by global warming.
In addition to wastewater dumped into rivers and the sea itself, Brazilian cities lack urban drainage and stormwater management (DMAPU) structures.
Since the surfaces of urban centers are largely impervious, runoff washes away everything in its path, such as animal excrement and waste, and can seep into the sewer system, creating an overload that overflows into rivers, canals and even beaches.
DMAPU collects water (e.g. in sewers), transports it in a controlled manner through galleries and canals, reduces the flow speed with reservoirs and retention areas and improves the quality before it reaches rivers and the sea.
A diagnosis from the Ministry of Cities published in 2023 showed that 19.2% of the 4,833 municipalities did not have any type of drainage system.
It is necessary to increase the permeability of soils in large cities through the expansion of green spaces and to contain the disorderly occupation of coastal areas. Mainly, progress is needed in public-private partnerships, facilitated by the sanitation legal framework, to improve wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure and DMAPU.
Without it, the beauty of the Brazilian coast will continue to contrast with the dirt of its waters.
editorials@grupofolha.com.br
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