Pedro Roberto Jacobi Program in Environmental Science, PROCAM-USP University of São Paulo

Transcription

1 Pedro Roberto Jacobi Program in Environmental Science, PROCAM-USP University of São Paulo

2 Issues Water Governance What is at stake? Transformations of Water Policy in Brazil Water Governance in Macro - Metropolitan São Paulo and Sustainable Urban Development Environmental Stress air pollution, pollution of waterways, the equation water quantity/water quality Climate Change Prospects and Water Governance

3 Main Principles of Policy Descentralized management - level of river basin; Integration of sectorial policies involved in water management; Involvement of water users and Civil Society in decison making process; Water as an economic good.

4 Process of Participation in Water Governance National Water Resources Council Water Resources Councils of the states and the Federal District Catchments committees more than 160 Government agencies with attributes related to water resources management Water agencies

5 São Paulo State Water Policy State divided into 22 administrative catchment units Established criteria for decentralised and participatory management of water resources through watershed committees.

6 Metropolitan Region of São Paulo Alto Tietê River Basin

7 Water in MRSP- the context Alto Tietê watershed, which supplies the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo Considered as one of the most critical areas in terms of water availability; Supply water demand to almost 20 million inhabitants; 50% of water is transferred from neighboring watersheds; Sharp demographic growth and urbanization has led to severe problems of water pollution- demographic growth significantly reduced in last decade.

8 Metropolitan Region of São Paulo Alto Tietê River Basin The area covered by the Alto Tiete basin is almost coterminous with the Metropolitan Region of Sao Paulo. With a drainage area of 5,985 square kilometers (2.4 percent of the state's territory), the basin encompasses 35 of the 39 municipalities and 99.5 percent of the population of Greater Sao Paulo. Population growth today: 1,2% /year In 2010 the population is estimated in 19, 7 million.

9 Metropolitan Region of São Paulo Alto Tietê River Basin Massive human occupation was accompanied by the large-scale construction of water infrastructure, including dams, pumping stations, canals, tunnels, and inter-basin transfers to and from neighboring basins. Alto-Tiete basin is served by a complex hydraulic and hydrological system. Despite this extensive water infrastructure, the water availability of the region is still very low (201 m3-haban) and even lower than the semiarid regions of the Brazilian Northeast

10 Metropolitan Region of São Paulo Alto Tietê River Basin Three key management issues to be addressed in the Alto Tiete basin: Water quantity to supply a burgeoning population Water quality which is deteriorating to a point where water availability for a range of uses is severely affected Urban flood control and mitigation represents another major challenge in the basin.

11 Metropolitan Region of São Paulo Alto Tietê River Basin Important achievements have been made over the past 15 years Decentralization process - characterized by the creation of the Alto-Tiete committee and its subcommittees Financing from the State Water Resources Fund Need for: measurable physical results such as the improvement of water quality, rationalization of water use and reduction/control of floods

12 Water and Land Use Issues Non reduction of floods and impacts on population indicate the lack of adequate land use planning and dialogue between water governance authorities and municipalities Natural causes always prevail in authorities arguments Existing infrastructure has become insufficient to control and mitigate Increase of natural events and strength has become common Lack of adequate disasters prevention policies Delay in basic infrastructure to flood insecurity

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16 Solutions Needed Reduce erosion Control garbage in waterways and brooks More than 5 million m 3 of mud, sand and garbage carried to two main rivers of the region Challenge to overcome palliative solutions Remove irregular occupations has a political cost Importance of codes and construction norms

17 Water Governance and Intersectoral Articulation Challenges Integration, equipment and mapping to enable quick response Improve systems of alert Inform, educate and warn population on extreme events alert Eliminate rsik areas needs land use control Restitute, mantain rivers, urban green areas and hillsides Advise population how to build to mitigate impacts og heavy rains and extreme events

18 Many Thanks!! Let us Debate!!