Participatory action research for the sustainable residential sewage treatment system: case of Sepé-Tiaraju rural settelement

Abstract

Participatory action research aims to integrate researchers and members of an organization in a cooperative and participatory way to solve a social problem. This article analyzes the process of participatory action research in the construction of a sustainable domestic sewage treatment system, involving families from the Sepé-Tiaraju Rural Settlement, Serra Azul - SP. The main sources of evidence were direct  observation, written and visual documentation, and interviews with participants. Descriptions of the process of choosing domestic sewage treatment system, and of the construction of a pilot treatment system are presented, as well as an evaluation of the participatory action-research process. Results indicated the need to increase the control of this process, regarding the governance of financial resources and interpersonal conflicts.