We have just opened our first physical office in Brazil to serve the needs of clients in the country and the rest of Latin America even better. We have a long history in Brazil, working on various projects throughout the country for over 40 years.
From coastal management to urban water, wastewater treatment and everything in between, we have used our knowledge to help Brazil solve its water challenges since 1972. Our relationship with Brazil deepened in 2009, when DHI Brazil became an official registered business unit of DHI Group. We are now further expanding our activities in Brazil with the establishment of an office in Florianópolis and by increasing our local staff.
A large country with diverse water needs
Brazil is a large country with complex and unique water needs and challenges. For example, part of the country is semi-arid and faces problems with river sedimentation and rivers drying up. Another part of the country contains 800,000 km2 of wetland – the largest in the world – with very distinct seasons. Brazil also has megacities, with over 17 million people living in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo alone. Megacities like these must cope with the water and wastewater treatment needs of not just thousands, but millions of inhabitants.
In the past, we have helped Brazil solve the numerous water challenges it faces due to the diversity of its ecosystems, environments, cities and climates. In particular, we have contributed to several ports and coastal engineering projects throughout the country, including:
- assisting with a shoreline recovery project in Marataizes, an important tourist city on the coast of Espirito Santo
- optimising several port designs for Petrobras, such as their new gas terminal designed to accommodate 60,000 tonne deadweight tankers in Barro do Riacho
Both coastal engineering and port projects will continue to be a priority for DHI Brazil. In addition, we have the experience and knowledge to:
- ensure the agricultural industry – which employs 15% of the labour force – does not negatively impact the environment
- improve urban water infrastructures, especially in the run up to the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics
- help dam operators adhere to recent assessment requirement laws
- assist the oil and gas sector in obtaining environmental permits for offshore operations and developing contingency plans
- design ports and marinas
- optimise the existing wastewater treatment infrastructure
- improve coastal management
- fairly share water resources
- institute a monitoring system for water
- improve coastal management along the Brazil’s 8,000 km coastline
- ensure water discharges from mines do not harm the environment
- reduce Non-Revenue Water in Brazil’s distribution networks, which can reach up to 40% in some areas
About DHI Brazil’s Management
Nilson Guiguer is DHI Brazil’s Managing Director, a position he has held since joining the company in April 2013. He previously worked at Waterloo Hydrogeologic (which he founded) and Schlumberger Water Services. While at Schlumberger, Nilson started the Water Services segment in Latin America. While there, he established operations in Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Peru. He later took on the role of Global Marketing and Business Development. He is a civil engineer and geologist, with a Master’s degree in Hydraulics and Hydrology from the University of São Paulo and a Ph.D. in hydrogeology from the University of Waterloo.
Alejandro Lasarte will continue to be fully involved in DHI’s activities in Brazil. Operating from Curitiba, he will continue expanding our business in Latin America as the Regional Business Development Manager.
Contact details for our Brazil office:
DHI Brasil Ltda.
Corporate Park
Rodovia Jose Carlos Daux, 8600
Bloco 3, Sala 3
Florianópolis - SC
88050-001
Brazil
Phone: +55 48 38795888