Clean Beaches for Santa Catarina Federative Republic of Brazil

1. Project Overview

The “Clean Beaches for Santa Catarina” initiative is a flagship research project under CIRAS’s commitment to innovative, non-toxic solutions for environmental challenges, mirroring the sustainable, chemical-free methodologies in CIRAS’s gold extraction project. It addresses bacterial water contamination in coastal zones, leveraging electrochemically activated water (ECA) technology to promote public health, economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience.

• Project Title: Clean Beaches for Santa Catarina
• Geographic Focus: Coastal zones of the State of Santa Catarina, Federative Republic of Brazil, targeting high-impact areas like Balneário Camboriú (Praia Central), Florianópolis (Canasvieiras and Ingleses), Itapema, Penha, and Porto Belo.
• Sector Alignment: Interdisciplinary integration across CIRAS centers:
  • Health Center: Focus on pathogen reduction and public health protection.
  • Economics Center: Emphasis on tourism revenue enhancement and cost-effective solutions.
  • Environment Center: Prioritization of eco-safe disinfection and biodiversity preservation.
  • Infrastructure Center: Development of scalable systems for water treatment and coastal management.
• Research Framework: Executed within CIRAS’s Research Framework for Environmental and Applied Science, led by the Health Sector (Director: Dr. Uwe Häcker) in collaboration with the Technology & Finance Division (Director: Lothar Hartmann). This aligns with CIRAS’s transdisciplinary model, as seen in the ARCHE Project, ensuring ethical research, data integrity, and stakeholder collaboration.

2. Problem Statement and Contextual Analysis

Santa Catarina’s beaches face a severe crisis from bacterial contamination due to inadequate sewage infrastructure, as detailed in the one-pager. An estimated 40% of beaches are affected by direct sewage discharge, with only 34% of the population connected to proper sewage systems. This results in approximately 295 Olympic-sized pools of untreated sewage released daily into waterways, leading to 60% of beaches being temporarily classified as unfit for bathing by the State Environmental Institute (IMA). High levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterococci, and other pathogens pose risks, causing gastroenteritis, diarrhea, nausea, and infections of the ears, eyes, and skin. Economically, this reduces tourism revenue and generates negative media coverage, impacting local economies.

This analysis draws from CIRAS’s infrastructure-focused projects, highlighting the need for resilient systems to mitigate such vulnerabilities.

3. Project Objectives

The primary objective is to eliminate bacterial contamination using ECA technology (ORP ≥ 650 mV), restoring beach safety and demonstrating a replicable model. Sub-objectives, aligned with CIRAS centers, include:

• Health Center: Reduce pathogen exposure to prevent waterborne diseases, achieving >99% bacterial reduction.
• Economics Center: Enhance tourism by reclassifying beaches as safe, potentially increasing revenue by 20-30%.
• Environment Center: Deploy eco-safe, non-toxic disinfection that reverts to water, protecting marine ecosystems.
• Infrastructure Center: Build scalable treatment systems for freshwater inflows, integrating with existing municipal infrastructure.

This mirrors objectives in CIRAS’s sustainable extraction project, emphasizing chemical-free innovation.

4. Technical Approach and Methodology

The approach utilizes electrolysis of low-salinity water to produce hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a natural disinfectant with high ORP (≥650 mV). This is validated by peer-reviewed studies (e.g., Nature Scientific Reports 2022 on bacterial removal in under 5 minutes; Environmental Research Journal on eco-friendly sanitation; Journal of Applied Microbiology on >6-log E. coli reduction in 30 seconds). Key advantages include:

• Performance: Kills E. coli, Salmonella, viruses, fungi, and biofilms in seconds (>99% reduction).
• Safety and Sustainability: 100% non-toxic, EPA-registered, FDA-approved; reverts to water with no residues.
• Economic Efficiency: Low cost (~$0.06/m³ treated); on-site generation eliminates storage needs.
• Application: Continuous injection into sewage-contaminated streams before ocean discharge, with IoT sensors for real-time monitoring (ORP, pH, bacterial levels).

Incorporating glossary terms (e.g., from provided sources: Oxidation-Reduction Potential as a measure of disinfectant strength; Hypochlorous Acid as a weak acid effective against microbes), the methodology ensures compliance with water treatment standards.

5. Structured Implementation Plan

Following CIRAS’s phased structures (e.g., 24-month durations in optimization projects), the plan is iterative, with overlaps for efficiency.

Phase	Description	Key Activities (Aligned with Centers)	Duration	Milestones
Phase 1: Preparation and Assessment	Baseline studies and planning.	– EIA with IMA (Environment Center). – Contamination mapping and stakeholder engagement (Infrastructure Center). – Health risk assessments (Health Center). – Economic impact modeling (Economics Center).	2 months (Dec 2025 – Jan 2026)	EIA approval; baseline data on 40% affected beaches.
Phase 2: Pilot Deployment	Initial testing in priority zones.	– Install ECA systems at sites like Balneário Camboriú (Infrastructure Center). – Monitor pathogen reduction (Health Center). – Assess cost savings (Economics Center). – Evaluate ecosystem impacts (Environment Center).	4 months (Feb 2026 – May 2026)	>50% reduction in pilots; interim economic forecasts.
Phase 3: Operation and Monitoring	Full testing and refinement.	– Continuous operation with AI analytics (Infrastructure Center). – Bacteriological sampling and health surveys (Health Center). – Biodiversity monitoring (Environment Center). – Revenue impact tracking (Economics Center).	6 months (Jun 2026 – Nov 2026)	>90% pathogen reduction; validated data sets.
Phase 4: Scale-Up and Dissemination	Expansion and knowledge transfer.	– Coastal-wide rollout (Infrastructure Center). – Publication and workshops (All Centers). – Replication strategies for other regions (Environment/Economics Centers).	12 months (Dec 2026 – Nov 2027)	Full coverage; published model for regenerative coastal systems.

Risk Management: Includes contingencies for regulatory delays, informed by CIRAS’s infrastructure resilience projects.

6. Expected Results and Outcomes

• Health Center: 90–99% pathogen reduction, reducing disease incidence by 70%; reclassification of beaches as safe within weeks.
• Economics Center: 20-30% tourism increase, yielding USD 50-100 million in annual revenue; low-cost implementation for long-term savings.
• Environment Center: Zero chemical pollutants, enhanced biodiversity; model for sustainable management akin to CIRAS’s regenerative frameworks.
• Infrastructure Center: Resilient, scalable systems treating inflows, preventing 295 Olympic pools of daily sewage impact.
• Scientific Contributions: Publications under CIRAS’s Environmental Health Division, building on validations.

7. Forecasts and Long-Term Projections

Using CIRAS’s modeling tools (e.g., from ARCHE Project simulations):

• Short-Term (1-2 Years): 95% beaches rated “excellent”; healthcare cost reductions of 15-25%.
• Medium-Term (3-5 Years): Adoption in 2-3 Brazilian states; 20-40% biodiversity improvement.
• Long-Term (5+ Years): Policy integration, averting millions of tons of chemicals; 5-10x ROI by 2035 through economic multipliers.

8. Funding and Financial Framework

• Total Project Budget: USD 10,000,000.
• Sponsor Contribution: 100% from BIN AWEIDHA HOLDING.
• Allocation: 35% Infrastructure (systems deployment), 25% Environment (monitoring), 20% Health (assessments), 20% Economics (impact studies).
• Fiscal Oversight: CIRAS-administered under GAAP/IFRS.

9. Reporting, Evaluation, and Auditing

• Progress Reporting: Quarterly, authored by CIRAS with center-specific KPIs.
• Evaluation: Bacterial reduction, health surveys, economic metrics, environmental indicators.
• Final Report: Comprehensive by December 2026.
• Auditing: Annual under IRIAS.

10. Intellectual Property and Publication Rights

IP vests with CIRAS/IRIAS; joint publications crediting sponsor, disseminated via CIRAS channels.

11. Timeline and Leadership

• Start Date: 1 December 2025
• Completion Date: 30 December 2026 (core), with extensions for scale-up.
• Leadership: Dr. Uwe Häcker (Health Lead), Lothar Hartmann (Coordinator); Quantoc for operations.

This structure positions the project as a benchmark in CIRAS’s portfolio, fostering innovation across health, economics, environment, and infrastructure for global impact. For inquiries, contact via CIRAS channels.

---

Scientific Validations of Electrochemically Activated Water (ECA) for Disinfection

Electrochemically Activated Water (ECA), also known as electrolyzed water or electrochemically activated solution (ECAS), is generated through the electrolysis of a dilute saline solution, producing hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and other reactive species with high oxidation-reduction potential (ORP). This technology has been extensively studied for its antimicrobial properties, particularly in water disinfection and bacterial reduction. Peer-reviewed research demonstrates its efficacy against pathogens like Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and others, often achieving rapid and significant log reductions without leaving harmful residues, as it reverts to water post-use. Below, I outline key validations from scientific literature, focusing on mechanisms, performance, and applications in wastewater and environmental contexts.

Mechanism of Action

ECA’s disinfection primarily relies on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and chlorine-based oxidants like HOCl, which disrupt bacterial cell membranes, proteins, and DNA. A study using SDS-PAGE analysis showed that ECA treatment alters protein profiles in P. aeruginosa and E. coli, leading to cell lysis and inactivation. This electrochemical process is eco-friendly, avoiding the need for chemical storage and producing no carcinogenic by-products, as confirmed in reviews of electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs).

Efficacy Against Bacterial Pathogens

• High Log Reductions in Short Times: Research in the Journal of Applied Microbiology reported over 6-log reduction of E. coli in 30 seconds using ECA, attributing this to membrane damage and intracellular changes. Similarly, a study achieved a 4-log reduction of E. coli (from 10^7 to hundreds CFU/mL) in a microbial electrolytic-Fenton system, highlighting ECA’s potential for expanding microbial electrochemistry applications.
• Wastewater Treatment Applications: A 2022 paper in Scientific Reports demonstrated complete bacterial removal from wastewater in under 5 minutes using electrochemical oxidation, with >99% inactivation of antibiotic-resistant E. coli via molybdenum carbide electrodes. This aligns with ECA’s use in treating hospital wastewater, where it reduced organic matter and pathogens by providing electrochemical assistance to microbial systems.
• Broad-Spectrum Activity: In vitro studies showed ECA solutions achieving >5-log CFU reductions against E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes on surfaces and in liquids, performing comparably or better than commercial sanitizers. Another review in Environmental Science & Technology emphasized ECA’s role in inactivating bacteria, viruses, and protozoa in drinking water and wastewater, with energy-efficient configurations reducing E. coli by 5-log at low voltages.

Environmental and Sustainability Aspects

ECA is highlighted as a chemical-free, sustainable alternative for water treatment. A review in Nature Reviews Materials noted its ability to remove contaminants difficult for conventional methods, with electrode materials like boron-doped diamond enhancing hydroxyl radical generation for pathogen inactivation. In pesticide-contaminated water, EAOPs including ECA achieved high degradation rates under mild conditions, supporting eco-friendly sanitation. Studies also confirm low operational costs (~$0.06/m³ treated) and scalability for municipal use, with 98.9% reduction in parasitic forms and 99.8% in E. coli colonies after 30 minutes of treatment.

Specific Validations from Referenced Journals

• Nature Scientific Reports (2022): Confirmed complete bacterial removal in wastewater via electro-oxidation, aligning with ECA’s high ORP for rapid disinfection.
• Environmental Research Journal: Identified electrochemical oxidation as a reliable, eco-friendly process for sanitation, effective against recalcitrant organics and pathogens.
• Journal of Applied Microbiology: Demonstrated >6-log E. coli reduction in seconds, with evidence of protein degradation as the antimicrobial mechanism.

These validations are supported by over 100 peer-reviewed studies, including applications in food processing, healthcare, and wastewater. While highly effective, efficacy can vary with water quality (e.g., pH, organic load), electrode materials, and operational parameters like voltage and contact time. Ongoing research focuses on optimizing energy use and scaling for real-world environmental applications.