River Basin Commission Research Articles

Water Security in the Context of the Piracicaba River Sub-Basin During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: To analyze the challenges for water security in municipalities belonging to the Piracicaba River (SP) sub-basin, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This is an exploratory and bibliographical research with a qualitative approach and case study and with a technical documentary procedure. The data sources were: Water Resources Situation Report; number of COVID-19 cases and deaths obtained from the Brazilian Ministry of Health website. In addition, a questionnaire on aspects related to water was administered to experts from the Technical Chamber for Conservation and Protection of Natural Resources of the Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí River Basin Committees. Results and conclusions: The number of cases and deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic increased significantly in the 1st half of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020. The experts interviewed attributed high importance to prevention measures, the trend of decreasing water availability and the reduction of losses from water distribution systems. Research implications: The research presented theoretical reflections on the COVID-19 pandemic and water security. Water is an extremely important resource, especially in times of epidemics, as occurred with COVID-19. Water security affects the availability of water both to meet the needs of the population and to maintain ecosystems. Originality/value: The research carried out highlights the need for public policies regarding water and sanitation in order to achieve the protection of the population's health and sustainable development.

Territorial Governance and its Challenges. Reflections on Inter-Municipal Consortia and River Basin Committees

Objective: To identify, analyze and diagnose certain proposals for regional development policies and planning that have emerged in Brazil in more recent periods, which, as such, do not have their origins in formulation and implementation by the federal level. Theoretical framework: With the involvement of different social and territorial scales, it became necessary to reflect on themes such as government, governance, planning and politics as a reflexive basis for the methodology. Method: The characterisation of forms of territorial governance was carried out through the analysis and diagnosis of case studies on River Basin Committees and Inter-municipal Public Consortia as empirical experiences involving different scales of regionalisation. Results and Discussion: Different levels and scales were uncovered in the involvement and triggering of management, from federal and state governments, to those originating in regional communities or even at municipal level and their different constraints and characteristics. Although the result of the limitation of these forms of management is not very surprising, it would be important to explore their potential for more democratic management in the future. Implications of the research: A constructive study of the common criticisms of proposals for regional coordination through committees and consortia could reveal the conditions in which they can become potential arenas for the political game of regional development. Originality/Value: In addition to contributing to the systematisation of the bibliography on the two forms of territorial management, it points to the need for further studies in search of their undiscovered potential.

Attitudes of political-administrative decision makers towards the implementation of nature-based solutions in water management – a case study on a hypothetical constructed wetland in the Tárcoles River basin

ABSTRACT Nature-based solutions (NBS) are actions that help communities address social-ecological challenges such as flooding and polluted groundwater. Nevertheless, research shows that in practice, NBS confront several barriers in planning and implementation, many of which are related to the different attitudes of political and administrative actors. There is knowledge missing on their viewpoints on NBS. We used Q-methodology to explore the attitudes towards the implementation of a constructed wetland as NBS, interviewing decision-makers from the Tárcoles River Basin Commission in Costa Rica, the administrative body in charge of the integrated management of the river. We determined three recognizable viewpoints: ‘the nature lover’, ‘the cost concerned’, and ‘the participation seeker’. Although all members of the commission shared a common vision, it was clear that their priorities differed. Regarding the ways of implementing NBS, interviewees agreed that the country urges a paradigm shift in policy design towards ecosystem-based approaches and emphasized the need for more cooperation among bodies of administration in river basin decision-making. We reflect on the lessons learned to improve planning and implementation of NBS, such as the importance of increasing knowledge and awareness of NBS, the support from all governance levels as well as the cooperation of researchers and policy-makers, and the consideration of NBS financing by private companies.

Comparative Assessment of the Mountainous River Basin in Kyrgyz-Kazakh Region of Central Asia with River Basins in Australia, Canada and USA

Central Asia is among the most heavily affected regions worldwide by climate change and water shortages. Impacts include changes in precipitation patterns, more frequent temperature extremes and increased aridity causing a negative impact on agricultural production, food availability, and environmental security. To combat this threat, it is important to enhance information literacy among all water users. This can be done through awareness campaigns, blended learning by providing the proper Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs and utilizing all available facilities. This will address relevant issues, such as miscommunication, complexities of transboundary water sharing issues, overexploitation of water resources, and poor flood-drought mitigation techniques. Proper and user-friendly lifelong blended learning for scientific information dissemination focusing water issues can provide stronger support to increase awareness among water users and decision policy makers. Worldwide, especially in North America and Australia, information literacy campaigns have proven successful. This strategy can be replicated in the Mountainous Kyrgyz-Kazakh Chu-Talas transboundary river basin. The issues concerning the Mountainous Kyrgyz-Kazakh Chu-Talas transboundary river basin is elaborated and compared with Australian, Canadian, and US river basin management programs. The foresight analysis is presented, as to what would be a rationale to improve water resources more sustainably in Central Asia. Methodologies, programs, technologies, communities-based river basin committees, snow-water collection with agroforestry, and basin-based water market opportunities were analyzed to assess potential applications in Central Asia region.

Information as a water resources management tool: an analysis of the website of the River Basin Agencies of São Paulo/Brazil

The management of water resources in Brazil occurs in a decentralized manner. Basin Agencies are deliberative entities that act as the executive office of the River Basin Committees. In the state of São Paulo there are three Basin Agencies: Fundação Agência da Bacia Hidrográfica do Alto Tietê (FABHAT), Fundação Agência da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Sorocaba e Médio Tietê (FABH-SMT) and Agência das Bacias dos Rios Piracicaba, Capivari e Jundiaí (AB-PCJ). Access to information is considered an important instrument of environmental governance and websites are an advantageous tool in the context of a network society. The general objective is to evaluate and compare the websites of the aforementioned River Basin Agencies, in order to verify the quality of information sharing. The methodology is based on the analysis of the structuring of pages and a protocol composed of seven variables (Identification, Ergonomics, Access to Information, Adequacy of Information, Content, Research and Relationship) and 41 analysis categories. The FABHAT and FABH-SMT website did not meet half of the indicators analyzed, presenting unsatisfactory performance. The AB-PCJ page met 33 requirements, being considered satisfactory. The website of an organization dedicated to water resources management needs to be constantly optimized to attract more users, to improve the community's understanding of the role of these institutions in society, to share information in a clear and accessible way with interested parties, and to strengthen the management of water resources.

Placing civil society in water security governance: challenges and opportunities for engagement

ABSTRACT Achieving water security requires action at all levels of governance, and cooperation among state and non-state actors, including civil society. However, in many places, participatory arrangements to enable cooperation, such as river basin committees or water user groups, have not been created, due to resource constraints or scepticism regarding their effectiveness. Here, we develop a typology of five key ‘governance actions’ that non-state actors may undertake to address environmental problems. We apply this typology to empirical findings from a water scarcity situation in Johor, Malaysia, where subnational civil society actors undertook a range of responses. The analysis reveals that, despite the absence of formal engagement mechanisms, civil society positively contributed to the governance of water security through ‘defining issues’, ‘creating and sharing knowledge’ and ‘taking independent action’ that could potentially inform wider practice, but faced challenges in ‘monitoring and evaluating’ or otherwise providing a critical perspective on impacts of water insecurity. The findings indicate possibilities for place-based and interest-based partnerships between government and civil society, and for supporting vertical relationships among civil society actors operating at different levels of governance. The study contributes to debates around power relations, knowledge sharing, and decision making across multilevel environmental governance.

The discourse of the right of access to water in the committees of the watersheds of the Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí rivers

This study questions whether the availability of water, despite being a fundamental condition for the survival and maintenance of human life, presents specificities in its management that end up disproportionately affecting those who, in some way, are linked to vulnerable, unprotected or disadvantaged social strata of society. Through content analysis of the reports and minutes of the meetings of the Technical Planning Chamber of the Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí River Basin Committees, an attempt was made to assess the extent to which the population at risk of scarcity and social, territorial, political, or economic vulnerability can have their right of access to water guaranteed. It was verified that the reports analyzed do not mention the universal right of access to water, nor its implementation or the promotion of specific policies for this purpose. Based on the results of the analysis carried out, it is suggested that the collection of data and information relevant to the topic should be included in the discussion and highlighted in the proposal of policies and actions for strategic planning to ensure the comprehensiveness and expansion of access to water for a fraction of the population that has not yet been satisfactorily and adequately reached by this benefit.

Land and Water in Rural São Paulo: Case Study of Environmental Inequalities in Brazil

The governance of environmental resources in rural territories is an issue that has received special attention in recent studies. This article presents research on conflicts in the management of water policies in rural territories in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The study addresses a case of tensions and conflicts in water governance promoted by River Basin Committees. The case study, carried out in the municipality of Barra Bonita between 2000 and 2010, used qualitative social research techniques, focusing on semistructured interviews, utilizing oral reports, and documentary survey. Based on the results of this research, this article discusses how different agrarian and agricultural contexts reproduce specific forms of inequalities in access to water, thus compromising the promotion of lasting standards of environmental justice at the local level.

Governance failures and knowledge asymmetries in the state river basin committees and their impacts on water resource management in Brazil

ABSTRACT This study reports the results of a nationwide survey of how representatives of the state river basin committees in Brazil perceive their involvement in the decision-making process. The survey revealed failures in governance caused by a lack of understanding of the water management system, limited technical knowledge and a deficit of accountability by committee members. These flaws weaken the exchange of ideas and the fair balance of members’ participation, whilst reflecting particularistic interests of certain groups or individuals in decision-making. Unless these problems are addressed, the OECD Principles on Water Governance cannot be implemented in Brazil’s river basins.

How do basin committees deal with water crises? Reflections for adaptive water governance from South America

Adaptive water governance involves collaboration among multiple actors, social learning, and flexibility to deal with shocks and surprises. Crises thus become a useful context to assess how the institutional arrangements contribute to adaptation. However, an important part of the specialized literature has focused on these issues as they occur in highly institutionalized settings in the Global North. This paper, instead, analyzes basin organizations in settings with variable degrees of institutionalization in South America. The objective is to analyze the actions (or lack thereof) conducted or encouraged by basin committees in watersheds of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, in the face of water crises. We analyze three case studies, involving basin committees that faced different water crises (all affecting drinking water supply) at different scales: (1) Chubut River Basin committee and a turbidity crisis in the Lower Valley in 2017 (Chubut, Argentina), (2) Piracicaba-Capivari-Jundiaí (PCJ) River Basins committee and a drought that occurred in 2014–2015 (São Paulo, Brazil), and (3) Laguna del Cisne Basin commission and a crisis associated with a failure in the water treatment operation in 2019 (Canelones, Uruguay). In each case, we analyze the institutional design of the committee and the actions (or lack thereof) undertaken regarding the crisis, including the perceptions of key stakeholders of those actions. Findings showed that stakeholders tend to act and communicate through fast channels when water crises occur, referring to basin committees only for technical and additional support (Brazil), information sharing (Uruguay), or not convening the committee at all (Argentina). Our cases in South American countries with different contexts provided empirical evidence of the barriers that basin committees face as political–institutional frameworks to foster adaptive water governance (e.g., limited stability, centralization, lack of leadership).

Who Governs at What Price? Technocratic Dominance, Ways of Knowing, and Long-Term Resilience of Brazil's Water System

Technocratic decision making has been long criticized for dampening participation and limiting the range of adaptive choices through its overreliance on infrastructure-based solutions. There has been growing attention to how technocratic approaches shape long-term resilience of water systems, especially under the threat of climatic change impacts. In Brazil, even under its highly decentralized and participatory water management system, technical expertise and science-based decisions have been often promoted as a desirable mechanism to insulate governance outcomes from the country's prevailing clientelistic and rent-seeking politics. Yet, Brazilian river basins continue to struggle with long-standing problems (such as universal access to sanitation) and increasing challenges for guaranteeing water provision under recurrent drought. In this study, we examine how technocratic insulation, different ways of knowing (WoKs), and participatory governance shape long-term resilience in one of Brazil's most important river basins, the Piracicaba-Capivari-Jundiaí (PCJ). By taking an in-depth look at how the PCJ River Basin's governance system responded to the 2014 Brazilian water crisis, we seek to understand how planning decisions in the aftermath of the crisis were influenced by different actors, and how the outcomes of those decisions are likely to shape long term resilience. Based on 27 in-depth interviews with members of the PCJ River Basin Committees, we show how a distinct preference for infrastructure-based solutions to deal with on-going and upcoming challenges may be unsustainable under climate change as the basin's traditional technocratic approach failed both to insulate its decisions from politics and to explore adaptive water management solutions that might be key to shape long-term resilience.

Turbulent waters in Northeast Brazil: A typology of water governance-related conflicts

In this paper we build a water conflict typology and discuss some applications for water resources planning and management. To show how a typology was built we highlight twelve well documented water conflicts historical cases in the semiarid region of Ceará state and water conflicts collectively identified by river basin committee members in four water resources river basin plans. To show how the typology works we applied it to contemporary cases of water conflicts headlined in the national media. Conflicts are separated into component characteristics such as triggers, actors, length, coverage area, mediation arena, and other useful information. As the complexity of social-environmental issues increases new tools for organizing data into useful information increase in demand. We believe that this water conflict typology can be employed as an analytical instrument capable of providing a "bird's-eye view" of diffuse sources of conflict.

The SAD-IPH mathematical model applicability in concession processes analysis: the Taquaruçu Stream’s Catchment case

In order to issue a water permit, which allows abstraction of water in a given place, the issuer needs to make sure, based on the hydrology of the region, that the amount of water available in the water body is sufficient to meet not only the demand associated with the required entitlement, but also all the existing demands from other users in the basin. This paper aims at evaluating the usefulness of the SAD-IPH mathematical model to simulate water demand scenarios in the Ribeirão Taquaruçu basin, located in the city of Palmas, state of Tocantins. Simulations provided by the SAD-IPH model indicate that the balance between water availability and demand is already critical in some parts of the basin, especially during the dry season, and the situation worsens over time. These results clearly suggest the local water utility needs to search for new water sources to meet the growing demand, mainly during the dry season. Results show the mathematical tool used in the analysis provides new and valuable information to decision makers (water resources institutions and river basin committees), potentially reducing the risk of making bad decisions. Additionally, as a water security measure, it is crucial to enforce the preservation of sensitive areas in the watershed because there is already an intense occupation in preserved areas next to water sources, a process that is likely to result in water yield reduction, which combined with an increase in the water demand over time, will compromise water security.

Land use and occupation in the Fundaça Stream subbasin, Espírito Santo, Brazil

The objective of the research was to evaluate land use and occupation in the Fundaça Stream subbasin, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, aiming at subsidizing improvements in environmental conservation and territorial planning. The procedures were performed in the ArcGIS® computer program. First, the study defined the limits of the subbasin, and then obtained the features of land use and occupation for the state of Espírito Santo from two mappings, from 2007 to 2008, and from 2012 to 2015. These features were edited, defining the classes of use and occupation only for the subbasin. They were identified, quantified, and mapped. There is a predominance of pasture, with percentages above 50 %, although this occupation decreased by 1.94 % between the periods studied. Coffee growing, the third predominant class, also decreased, which can be attributed to the preference for other activities, such as eucalyptus forestry. This showed strong growth, although with even lower percentages. Mishandling of those areas can cause environmental and economic damage. However, the areas of native vegetation represented a minimal rate, even with an increase, due to the decrease of vegetation in the early stage of regeneration. Macega (wild vegetation) coverage, besides being close to the native vegetation and which was predominantly fragmented, indicates problems with the use and occupation planning. The action of the local riverbasin committee and public managers, besides environmental education, and correct management of rural activities, are necessary actions.

Water Security and River Basin Revitalization of the São Francisco River Basin: A Symbiotic Relationship

What is river basin revitalization’s place in relation to water security? This question is the basis of our reflection, posed to help in the understanding of the evolution of both concepts, taking management of the São Francisco River Basin (Brazil) as a case study. With this main objective in mind, a literature review was carried out, followed by the collection of survey data on the watershed’s revitalization program. In this context, the members of the São Francisco River Basin Committee (a total of 124 participants) were consulted, using questionnaires with the Delphi method. The respondents (a total of 47) chose the river basin revitalization strategy as the main measure to achieving water security in the São Francisco River Basin. They also highlighted the importance of the environmental dimension, underlining measures for conservation and restoration of the ecosystem’s natural functions. The concept map tool was adopted for a comparative perspective between conceptual implications of revitalization and water security for the studied river basin’s conservation. The results showed the existence of a symbiotic relationship between both concepts. Consequently, we conclude that it is urgent to reconcile water use and ecosystem ecological integrity through the comprehensive concept of water security.

Improving water governance in Brazil: an organisational memory approach

Abstract Brazilian river basin committees are a democratic innovation increasingly studied throughout the world as a positive example of water governance, with some limitations. In our two-year research project (2018-2020), we aimed at activating, preserving and circulating narratives and stories from the participation of the various social, economic and political actors in the Upper Tietê River Basin Committee (São Paulo), in order to gather organisational memories. Our interview data bring lessons applicable to contexts with similar governance systems and others beyond, by suggesting how democratic, participatory arrangements can be improved as strategies that a society can explore in the process of learning how to cope with the effects of climate change, including the threat of water scarcity that grew in the metropolitan region of São Paulo after 2014. Interviews point to the need to clarify the roles of the committee and its members before society, to strengthen authority and legitimacy.

Representation of agriculture in water governance in São Paulo

Abstract The water resources management model in the state of São Paulo is characterized by the participation of water users from different sectors of the economy within the ambit of River Basin Committees and other organizations of the water management system. The purpose of this article is to present a survey and systematization of the performance of representatives of São Paulo’s agricultural sector in this decentralized and participatory system of water governance. To this end, this article recreates the profile of this sectoral representation in the State Water Resources Council and in the Committees for rural areas with strong agricultural dynamics in the state. The findings of this study reveal significant political and propositional differences between São Paulo’s agriculture and agroindustry sectors. Such differences have to do with the structure and capillarity of the entities that represent these sectors, as well as their divergent concept of management.

El sistema brasileño de gestión del agua y la participación pública: el caso de la cuenca del río Paraíba

Millones de personas sufren de escasez de agua en Brasil, lo que puede dar lugar a conflictos por la falta de una adecuada participación pública de los usuarios en la toma de decisiones. El Proyecto de Integración del río São Francisco (PISF) tiene como función principal aumentar el suministro de agua en las ciudades y en las áreas rurales. Este trabajo pretende analizar la participación del Comité de la Cuenca del río Paraíba (CBH-PB) y la gestión de cuencas con la llegada del trasvase, a través del estudio documental, así como verificar el desempeño de los actores que participan en el proceso de discusión dentro del Comité, identificando sus impactos ambientales. Los documentos analizados abarcan un período de tiempo comprendido entre 2007 y 2016. Concluyéndose que no hubo una participación efectiva del Comité en el proceso de toma de decisiones con respecto a las obras del trasvase y del saneamiento.

A Governança Política no Comitê de Bacia do Rio Paraguaçu

O presente estudo é parte dos resultados da pesquisa, em fase de finalização, Governança Territorial no Brasil: especificidades institucionais, lógicas espaciais e políticas de desenvolvimento, nos estados: Bahia, Minas Gerais e São Paulo. Tem como objetivos principais identificar e analisar os processos políticos, de construção de acordos sócio-políticos hegemônicos e contra hegemônicos, no Comitê da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Paraguaçu. Problematizando a existência e as conformações das redes de poder nesse Comitê, tomando como base o pensamento do filósofo italiano Antônio Gramsci. A pesquisa teve como prioridade uma abordagem qualitativa, sem, contudo desconsiderar os dados quantitativos. As principais fontes utilizadas foram: documentos, entrevistas, observações de reuniões do Comitê. Utilizou-se a análise de conteúdo com categorização de expressões e situações que apareceram de forma mais relevante e que respondiam as questões contidas nos objetivos da pesquisa. A estudo teve como objeto o Comitê da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Paraguaçu, apontando os seguintes elementos conclusivos: presença de um bloco dominante, composto pelos usuários da água; inexistência de um bloco contra hegemônico, capaz de se contrapor ao bloco dominante; presença de forças isoladas (composta por representantes da sociedade civil) e com uma frágil articulação, conseguindo em alguns momentos, ir para o embate político e disputa de posições, porém com tímidas vitórias. Com os resultados desse estudo, é possível aprofundar o debate acerca dos compromissos econômicos e pactos políticos estabelecidos entre Estado, sociedade civil e usuários que dão o tom a governança no Comitê da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Paraguaçu.

The local dimension in water resources governance: the experience of inter-municipal consortia and committees on river basins

Integrated water resources management is advancing in Brazil as decentralized and participatory governance gains more prominence. However, local actions need to be better understood since several public policies are effectively implemented at this level. The present article aims to present the current debate about the local dimension in water resources governance. The paper analyzes empirical cases of water resources management in semi-arid Brazil, based on the performance of inter-municipal consortia and São Francisco’s River Basin Committee. Research shows that municipalities do not ignore the need to adopt new management models in response to their known financial and technical limitations. Cases of inter-municipal consortia and river basin committees have proven to be opportunities for greater visibility and action of local participants. Inter-municipal consortia assist in sanitation management, because they increase the access of municipalities to the services provided. On the other hand, dynamics of the river basin committee expanded the possibilities of participation of local actors, allowing the debate and shared decision-making. Nevertheless, identifying factors and strategies for the successful organization of local participation and cooperation in these new governance arrangements is needed.