The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), during the announcement of investments for the Environment in São Paulo. Reproduction/TV Globo The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), announced this Wednesday (10) a package of environmental actions in the state that included the investment of R$23.5 billion in the depollution of the Tietê and Pinheiros rivers by 2029. The announcement came one day after a spot of toxic foam appeared in the Tietê River, near the cities of Itu and Salto, and was made during an event at the Tietê Ecological Park, in the East Zone of the capital of São Paulo, due to World Environment Week. At the event, Tarcísio also promised to invest R$24 million to revitalize the Rio Pinheiros cycle path, where cyclists have been suffering from robberies and lack of lighting during bike training (see more about the plan here). The revitalization will be carried out in conjunction with the private company Emae, which was privatized in 2024 by the governor of SP and began, around three months ago, to be controlled by the also privatized Sabesp. According to the São Paulo government, the two rivers will have satellite monitoring of water conditions open to the public and in real time, in addition to the installation of smart buoys to monitor water quality. The governor also stated that he will increase garbage collection in the Pinheiros River by 20%. At the event, Tarcisio avoided, however, talking about a date for the total depollution of the two rivers, but stated that “in a few years we will have a Tietê and a Pinheiros completely different from what we have today”. "Many tried, no one went ahead. And we did and we are making a difference. And in a few years we will have a Tietê and a Pinheiros completely different from the one we have today. It's not a miracle, it's technique", he declared. SP government announcements on the Tietê and Pinheiros Rivers for depollution. Reproduction/TV Globo Toxic foam in Tietê The Tietê River dawned covered in toxic foam and with a low volume of water this Tuesday (9) and Wednesday (10), in the region of Itu and Salto (SP). Images taken by drone show the situation at the site. The phenomenon is caused by pollution coming from the capital of São Paulo, such as detergents and chemicals. This waste forms the white layer when it is agitated by the force of the water in the river falls. Tietê River continues with toxic foam in the Itu and Salto region According to the National Center for Natural Disaster Monitoring and Alerts (Cemaden), the lack of recent rain exacerbates the problem. Drought reduces the flow of the river and concentrates pollutants, which intensifies the formation of foam. The last time Tietê was completely covered by foam was on May 13th. At the time, the substance remained in the water for more than two weeks, until the 29th. Although the landscape attracts tourists to Complexo da Cachoeira, Civil Defense and city hall warn of the risks. The recommendation is that people, especially children, do not approach the shore. Contact of the foam with the skin and eyes can cause irritation. Tietê River continues with toxic foam in the Itu and Salto region Disclosure/D-Vision Aerial Images 🧼 What causes foam? The phenomenon is a chronic problem in the city and results from the combination of three main factors: Pollution: untreated domestic and industrial sewage, which flows from Greater São Paulo, is rich in phosphorus and detergent residues; Lack of rain: the recent drought in the region reduces the river flow, which increases the concentration of pollutants in the water; Waterfalls: upon reaching Salto and Itu, the agitation of the water on the rocks works like a "blender", beating the chemicals and generating the foam that covers the landscape. Tietê River accumulates white foam this Wednesday (10), in Salto (SP) D-Vision aerial images/Playback Tietê River continues with toxic foam in the Itu and Salto region Disclosure/D-Vision Aerial Images