Posted on September 24, 2025
Public-private partnership aims to dredge, clean, revitalize Tietê and Pinheiros rivers over 15 years
The São Paulo Secretariat for Environment and Logistics (SEMIL) and the Secretariat for Partnerships and Investments (SPI) on Monday (22) opened a public consultation for a public-private partnership (PPP) aimed at dredging, cleaning, and revitalizing the Tietê and Pinheiros rivers. The project foresees an investment of R$9.5 billion for service delivery over a 15-year period starting from the signing of the bidding contract.
“We will hold consultations and hearings now so that next year we can move forward with the bidding process,” said Natália Resende, São Paulo’s Secretary of Environment, Infrastructure, and Logistics. A tender to select the contractor is expected in the second half of 2026, with proposals starting at around R$75 million per month (approximately R$900 million annually). After contract discounts, capital costs, and other factors, the total over 15 years reaches R$9.5 billion, according to the São Paulo government. Ms. Resende expects a competitive process.
The PPP covers services on the Tietê River between the Ponte Nova Dam and the Pirapora Dam, a stretch of about 179.5 kilometers, and on the Pinheiros River from the Pedreira Dam to its confluence with the Tietê, including the Guarapiranga Canal, spanning roughly 25.9 kilometers.
Services include dredging, removal of debris and macrophytes (aquatic plants), operation and maintenance of the Móvel and Penha dams, and 12 polders—low-lying areas designed to absorb floodwaters to protect inhabited and cultivated regions. The project also includes revitalization and maintenance of riverside green areas, as well as cleaning and upkeep of slopes and concrete embankments.
“All of this is set in contracts, with targets and quality monitoring,” Ms. Resende said. She expects the Tietê’s biodegradable waste load to be reduced by 54% by 2029. Making the river navigable, especially in its middle and lower courses, is also an objective. “We will analyze each section to see what is feasible, taking water quality into account,” she added.
During the announcement, the new Salesópolis Park project was also presented, with an investment of R$158 million. The project is scheduled for 24 months—six for planning and 18 for construction—after the bidding process, expected in October, is completed.
The park aims to restore and preserve the Tietê floodplains while creating public leisure and environmental education spaces, encouraging community participation.
SP Águas also announced an investment of R$44.1 million over the next 36 months to maintain landscaping along the Tietê’s banks between the Penha Dam and the Pinheiros River confluence.
Amid low rainfall in August, historically the driest month, concerns are growing over potential water shortages and wildfires in the state. Ms. Resende said the government is implementing preventive measures to mitigate these risks.
Water management initiatives include reducing water pressure across Greater São Paulo due to low reservoir levels, announced by Sabesp on August 27 and now extended from eight to ten hours daily.
Another measure is the transposition of the Paraíba do Sul River to the Cantareira system, authorized by the National Water Agency (ANA). “We expect heavy rains in the coming days, but we continue to monitor reservoirs and water sources,” Ms. Resende said.
Regarding fires, the secretary noted that over R$70 million was invested in 2025 to expand firefighting teams, train new personnel, reinforce aerial support, and intensify inspections. While weather conditions this year were less severe, the number of fires recorded in August still fell by 86%.
