On December 4th, Copaíba participated in the Plenary of the Rio Grande River Basin Committee (CBH Grande), which approved the Deliberation establishing the Working Group for Monitoring the Contamination of the Rio do Peixe, also known as the “GT do rio do Fish".

This group aims to seek collaborative and consensual solutions to the contamination of the Peixe River. One of the most serious cases is the release of untreated industrial effluents that cause foam in the rapids of the Peixe River, close to the border of Socorro/SP with the municipality of Munhoz in Minas Gerais. This pollution, originating from criminal discharges in the river's headwaters, represents a great risk for downstream municipalities, including Socorro, which depend on the Peixe River for public water supply.

Camila Conti, public policy analyst at Copaíba, highlights: “We consider the formation of this Working Group an important step, since the Peixe River is a body of water under federal control and the conflicts have involved two different States, Minas Gerais and São Paulo. In this context, the Rio Grande Committee is an appropriate body to deal with the case more effectively, as it integrates the different state water resources management units. We hope that this will result in more effective actions to resolve the case.”

Initially, the group will work to promote discussions with entities responsible for control and supervision, as well as companies and public authorities involved in the problem. The developments of the actions and the record of the negotiations will be continuously informed in the plenary meetings of the CBH Grande and in the Committees of the tributary basins covered.

The Peixe River GT will feature representatives from national and state entities such as the National Water and Basic Sanitation Agency (ANA), the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais (FIEMG), the Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo (CETESB ) and the Minas Gerais Water Management Institute (IGAM). In addition, there will be the participation of representatives from Socorro, including Copaíba, Grupo Ecológico Água – GEA and the Municipal Government of Socorro/SP.

Created in 2010, CBH Grande's role is to administratively arbitrate conflicts related to the use of water from federal water bodies in the basin. The case of Rio do Peixe is the first to be treated in this way by the Committee. Camila comments: “The relief mobilization in defense of the river was crucial in making the Rio do Peixe GT the first case of action by CBH Grande.”

During the year 2023, different sectors of organized civil society mobilized, either to officiate the responsible bodies, or to raise awareness among the population about the problem of contamination of the Peixe River. These actions included, for example, the launch of the manifesto “Rio Vivo, Saúde Plena” which, through a petition, sought to increase the visibility of the case, mobilizing popular actions at public events. Such initiatives were added to the activities of the municipal public authorities, involving both the Executive Branch and sectors of the Legislature.

In the Mogi-Guaçu River Hydrographic Basin Committee (CBH Mogi), aid participation this year was essential and resulted in a Motion of Repudiation and the articulation of CBH Grande's action, which is now effective. Participating in CBH Mogi are Copaíba, Socorro City Hall and GEA.

Camila concludes: “This is an issue that directly affects people’s lives. Therefore, we will continue to act in whatever way we can, we cannot stop. We have great expectations for the start of GT activities next year.”