Porto Alegre completes flood protection gate installation

Porto Alegre has completed the installation of new flood protection gates in three galleries connecting the Areia stream to the Gravataí River in the Anchieta neighborhood. This intervention is part of the protection works for polders 7 and 8. In August, four additional galleries connecting the Passo das Pedras stream to the Gravataí River also received gates.

Under normal conditions, these galleries remain open to facilitate rainwater drainage. When river levels rise, the gates are closed to prevent water from flowing back into the neighborhoods. Floating pumps are then used to remove accumulated water from the protected areas and return it to the river.

The completed protection works for polders 7 and 8 involved an investment of R$ 47 million, covering engineering services, equipment, electrocenters, and generators. The municipal water and sewage department (Dmae) is currently working on a preliminary project for a definitive flood protection work estimated at R$ 300 million, which includes the construction of two new rainwater pumping stations.

Additional resilience measures are underway, including the installation of dual power supplies at 37 Dmae stations and upgrades to 11 pumping stations. Furthermore, the Municipal Secretariat of Works and Infrastructure (Smoi) is working to install gates in the networks connecting the Usina do Gasômetro building to the Guaíba River.