Urban Drainage, Water Degradation, And Violation Of The Fundamental Right to an Ecologically Balanced Environment: Igarapés As Sewage Receivers In Manaus (Am)

Abstract

This article analyzes the transformation of urban streams (igarapés) in Manaus into sewage receivers, relating this process to the urban drainage structure and the insufficiency of basic sanitation policies. It is based on the hypothesis that the use of these watercourses as informal infrastructure for wastewater disposal constitutes a violation of the fundamental right to an ecologically balanced environment. The research adopts a qualitative approach, grounded in documentary analysis of legislation, urban plans, and specialized literature. The theoretical framework articulates contributions from critical geography, particularly regarding the production of space, with the theory of fundamental rights and environmental justice. The results indicate that the degradation of igarapés is not merely a consequence of irregular settlements, but rather an expression of a model of urbanization that externalizes environmental costs to socially vulnerable territories. It is concluded that the lack of effectiveness of sanitation policies in Manaus reveals a structural failure of public authorities, with relevant legal implications in the field of urban environmental law.