Water inequalities
The country’s continental dimensions, contrasting climates, population distribution, economic and social development, among other factors, result in wide differences between its geographical regions.
Water scarcity problems in Brazil derive basically from a combination of excessive growth of localized demands and the degradation of water quality. The current picture is a consequence of unplanned urban growth, industrialization and agricultural expansion beginning in 1950s.
Water scarcity problems in Brazil derive basically from a combination of excessive growth of localized demands and the degradation of water quality. The current picture is a consequence of unplanned urban growth, industrialization and agricultural expansion beginning in 1950s.
About12% of the world's surface water is located in Brazil. However, this impressive average masks an extremely uneven distribution of water resources among regions.The Amazon river basin alone, which covers 48% of the country's territory, accounts for 75% of Brazil's freshwater resources but has only 4% of its population.
The most dramatic departure from abundance can be found in the Northeast region, which includes most of the country's semi-arid region. Accounting for 18% of Brazil's territory and about 29% of its population, the Northeast region has only 5% of the country's water resources and is subject to recurrent, severe droughts.
The most dramatic departure from abundance can be found in the Northeast region, which includes most of the country's semi-arid region. Accounting for 18% of Brazil's territory and about 29% of its population, the Northeast region has only 5% of the country's water resources and is subject to recurrent, severe droughts.
About 61% of all water withdrawal in Brazil is used for irrigation, which is lower than the average water withdrawal for irrigation
in Latin America, 71%.
In the Northeast of Brazil droughts are a cyclical phenomenon occurring every 10 to 12 years, and some of them are very severe. The region has an annual average rainfall ranging from 400 to 800 mm. The effects of droughts on the local, mostly poor, population are devastating.
Floods along the Amazon River are a complex mix of fluvial forms, islands, scroll-dominated plains, and abandoned belts highly prone to floods in the summer months.
The UNFCC indicates a potential Amazon Forest loss of between 20 and 80% as a result of climate impacts induced by a temperature increase in the basin of between 2.0 and 3.0 degrees Celsius. The IPCC is also indicating a likelihood of major biodiversity extinctions as a consequence.
States with unfavorable water availability conditions per person (Lima, 2000)
Per capita availability: Parabas: 1,392 (m3/person/year)-> Periodic and regular water stress
Rio de Janeiro: 2,208 (m3/person/year)-> Only occasional water scarcity problems
in Latin America, 71%.
In the Northeast of Brazil droughts are a cyclical phenomenon occurring every 10 to 12 years, and some of them are very severe. The region has an annual average rainfall ranging from 400 to 800 mm. The effects of droughts on the local, mostly poor, population are devastating.
Floods along the Amazon River are a complex mix of fluvial forms, islands, scroll-dominated plains, and abandoned belts highly prone to floods in the summer months.
The UNFCC indicates a potential Amazon Forest loss of between 20 and 80% as a result of climate impacts induced by a temperature increase in the basin of between 2.0 and 3.0 degrees Celsius. The IPCC is also indicating a likelihood of major biodiversity extinctions as a consequence.
States with unfavorable water availability conditions per person (Lima, 2000)
Per capita availability: Parabas: 1,392 (m3/person/year)-> Periodic and regular water stress
Rio de Janeiro: 2,208 (m3/person/year)-> Only occasional water scarcity problems