All river ship freight including such commodities like sand, gravel, and sugarcane, total approximately 2 million metric tons.

However, the environmental degradation of the Tietê River started subtly in the 1920s with the construction of the Guarapiranga Reservoir, by the Canadian firm São Paulo Tramway, Light and Power Company, for the later generation of electrical energy in the hydroelectric power stations Edgar de Souza and Rasgão, situated in Santana de Parnaíba.

[10] The governor of São Paulo ordered Sabesp, the company responsible for sanitation in the state, to establish a program to clean up the river.

The state at the same time sought help at the Inter American Development Bank, and proposed a project based on the former studies of SANEGRAN.

[citation needed] After more than 16 years, the cleaning up of the River Tietê is still far short of desired levels, but encouraging progress has been made.