One of the fundamental projects of the Water Resources Management Plan is Limnological and Surface Water Quality Monitoring. This project, implemented to monitor possible changes in water quality due to environmental changes resulting from the construction and operation of the plant, is carried out on a weekly, biweekly, monthly and quarterly basis. Over the past 12 years, these monitoring efforts have provided a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the region.
Since the beginning of the works, more than 75 thousand surface water samples have been collected for analysis of physical-chemical and bacteriological parameters, from upstream of the Xingu Reservoir to downstream of Belo Monte, in the Xingu River and Reservoir, as well as in the Bypass Channel, Intermediate Reservoir and Bacajá River. Collections are still carried out in the urban streams of Altamira.
Since the beginning of monitoring until 2023, more than 10,000 measurements of groundwater levels were taken in wells at 101 different points. Around 2,500 sample collections were also carried out to monitor groundwater quality.
The results of this monitoring have been consistent: the Xingu River maintains its classification as a Class 2 water body, as established by the National Environmental Council through Conama Resolution No. 357/2005. This means that its waters can be used for various purposes, such as domestic supply after conventional treatment; recreation (such as swimming, diving, etc.); fishing; irrigation and breeding of aquatic species for human consumption. Annually, we send reports to Ibama and ANA with hydrological, climatological and water quality data, in order to fulfill our obligation, as established in the environmental licensing.
Maintaining water quality is a direct result of interventions carried out by Norte Energia in Altamira. In addition to the actions to remove vegetation in the reservoirs, we improved the water supply system and implemented collection networks, pumping stations and a sewage treatment plant. These initiatives provided basic sanitation and quality of life for more than 90% of the local population at the time the actions were implemented in 2018.
In 2022, a Term of Commitment was signed with the Municipality of Altamira for the transfer of basic sanitation assets built by the company for the municipal government, which took over management of the asset from January 2023.
Norte Energia uses as a reference the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank for the disposal of effluents in places where there are no specific requirements.
Norte Energia has an Internal Standard called Process Instruction IP-PR-046-2019, which deals with the Management of Liquid Effluents. This document establishes:
- That effluents must comply with the Resolutions of the National Environmental Council (Conama) and the Performance standards of the International Finance Corporation (IFC);
- Monthly monitoring of effluent quality should be carried out in a laboratory accredited by Inmetro.