Healthy Canals Without Landfills
At Ciudad Emergente, we believe that ocean decontamination begins in the heart of our cities. Through the "Healthy Canals Without Landfills" project, we are transforming a former pollution hotspot in Quilicura into a living ecosystem that protects Santiago’s water network and revitalizes ancestral knowledge.
Place
Quilicura, Chile
Year
2025 - 2026
Objectives
The central purpose of this project is to contribute to the decontamination of waters flowing toward the Pacific Ocean through the protection and sanitation of the San Ignacio Canal. We seek to transform land historically affected by illegal dumping into an Environmental Education Center, highlighting the role of totora (bulrush) as a natural purifier and empowering the totorero community as key guardians of the ecosystem.
Methodology
Our work combines technical innovation with tactical urbanism and community participation:
Nature-Based Solutions (NbS): We utilize phytoremediation through totora (Typha) to degrade pollutants and biologically improve water quality.
Technological Monitoring: We implement environmental sensors and Artificial Intelligence mapping to measure the real impact of vegetation on water purification.
Enabling Infrastructure: We design and build access platforms and operational docks that facilitate totora harvesting and channel maintenance, preventing overflows.
Harvesting Knowledge: We conduct participatory workshops and environmental education activities to transfer the craft of the totoreros to new generations.
Clients / Partners
Strategic Partner: Municipality of Quilicura (Environmental Management Directorate).
Driving Organizations: Urban Ocean and Resilient Cities Network.
Key Collaborators: Santiago Maipo Water Fund, SEREMI of the Ministry of the Environment (Metropolitan Region), and the artisan totorero community of Quilicura.
Results & Impact
Historic Cleanup: Successfully removed over 180 tons of solid waste from a 10,000 m² site, eliminating an illegal landfill that had existed for decades.
Scientific Evidence: Water samples confirmed that totora management maintains heavy metals within the limits of the regulation (NCH1333).
Global Milestone: The project was selected as an example of Climate Action at the COP16 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh.
Urban Regeneration: Installation of a Miyawaki Forest to combat heat islands and the creation of logistical infrastructure for canal management.
Conclusions
Note: This project includes a previous stage: Clean and Safe Quilicura.
"Healthy Canals Without Landfills" teaches us that urban regeneration is not just about cleaning up trash, but about reconnecting with our territorial identity. The fundamental lesson for Ciudad Emergente in Quilicura is that technology and nature reach their maximum potential when integrated with the community. By rescuing the craft of the totoreros, we are not only sanitizing a canal; we are strengthening the resilience of a city that is learning to care for its water from the roots up.
