The Basic Sanitation Company of the State of São Paulo (Sabesp) reported, this Sunday (5), that the virus outbreak in Guarujá, on the coast of São Paulo, is not related to the company’s operations. “No problem was identified in the company’s network that may have affected the beaches of Guarujá,” he said in a statement.
The city of Guarujá had informed that it notified Sabesp about the possibility of leaks and clandestine sewage connections in the Enseada region, which could be the cause of the increase in virus cases in the city. However, Sabesp denied the information.
“The company has not yet been notified by the city hall, but, in any case, it has already provided the necessary clarifications to the Municipal Department of the Environment”, says the note. Also according to Sabesp, the water and sewage systems in Baixada Santista are operating normally and are monitored 24 hours a day.
“The municipality has around 45 thousand irregular properties, whose sewage may be dumped into rainwater galleries, which would affect the bathing ability of the beaches. This is because the municipal rainwater networks, which must be monitored by the city hall, flow into the sea”, added Sabesp.
Furthermore, the municipality of Guarujá reported that “it is awaiting the results of analyzes sent to the Adolfo Lutz Institute to try to clarify the origin of cases of GECA (acute gastroenterocolitis), a disease that causes inflammation in the stomach, small intestine and large intestine”.
Inappropriate beaches
The government of São Paulo advises the population to pay attention to the quality of the sea water and seek information before bathing on the coast of São Paulo, consulting the water situation in the website from the Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo (Cetesb) or following the beach flag: if it is red, this indicates that the beach is unsuitable for swimming. It is also not recommended to bathe in water 24 hours after rain.
Of the 175 beaches frequented by bathers in the state of São Paulo and monitored by Cetesb, 38 are unsuitable for bathing. Among them, the beaches Aviação, Vila Tupi, Vila Mirim, Maracanã, Real and Balneário Florida, in Praia Grande, and the beaches of Perequê and Enseada, in Guarujá. In Santos, Ponta da Praia, Aparecida, Embaré, Boqueirão, Gonzaga and José Menino were unsuitable for swimming.
