Evaluating the effectiveness of the Water Resources Master Plan in Campinas, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract From 2013 to 2015, the Brazilian southeast region experienced the most severe and intense drought recorded, the Water Crisis. This outstanding drought led the government to make efforts toward an adequate water resources management. In Campinas, the third most populous city of the State of São Paulo, the government proposed the Campinas Water Resources Master Plan (CWRMP), the main objective of which was to ensure the quantity and quality of water, reducing water vulnerability in the municipality. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of this plan through the major guidelines into four actions: (1) increase the permeability rate and the soil infiltration capacity, (2) increase the vegetation cover, (3) improve the sanitation services, and (4) minimize the number of contaminated areas. For Actions 1 and 2, we inferred that the aforementioned parameters have increased after the CWRMP enactment. About the Action 3, we found that Campinas has historically provided good sanitation services to the population, regardless of the CWRMP promulgation. However, more improvements should be given to waste collection and recycling services. The underground water consumption also has to be regulated, as significant exploitation has no legal permit. Finally, considering Action 4, the number of contaminated areas was reduced in the available data period. Therefore, the CWRMP was considered a valuable initiative to support an integrated and sustainable use of water, improving the water resources management in Campinas.