This study examines how environmental issues have been addressed in the water sector in Brazil, within the context of activities of the Federal Government, generally, and those implemented under Bank sector operations, in particular. The core focus of the study lies in the management of water quality, as it affects both the users of raw water, and those who are primarily concerned with the disposal of wastewater. The report considers the following three sectoral areas concomitantly - water resources management, water supply and sanitation, and, the environment - thus limiting its review, and focus to those themes which are key to the over-arching issue of water quality. Water resources management in the country relied upon heavy investments in medium, and large scale projects that provided basic infrastructure for water uses. However, these have produced questionable impacts in terms of reducing poverty, and inequality. One of the reasons for this, has been the poor infrastructure management, which despite its importance, has been largely underestimated. While improvements in the utilization of existing infrastructure in the water sector remain critical, it needs to be complemented by incentives to both service providers, and water users. Moreover, low economic, environmental, and social returns from investments in the water sector, reflect the tendency to distract attention from the objectives in the design, and implementation of projects. Thus, an assessment of water quality goals is required, which should be based on systematic evaluations of the costs, and benefits of reaching alternative standards, and explicit social objectives.

The Hydrographic Basin of the Paraguaçu River is considered the most important in the state of Bahia, among other factors, because it has several reservoirs along the main course of its river that contribute to meeting the demands of different uses. In terms of conflict over water use, it is the basin in the state of Bahia that most demands planning and disciplining actions for the use of water resources, particularly in its upper reaches, where the Apertado Dam is located. This is thanks to the presence of advanced irrigated agriculture. The construction of the Apertado Dam contributed to the economic development of the region, through the expansion of the irrigated area - like the Pólo Agrícola Mucugê-Ibicoara -, and also with the increase of pressure on the environment, which raises the importance of carrying out evaluations aimed at verifying the sustainability of these activities, with regard to water resources. This importance grows when considering the systemic aspects – the completeness of the Paraguaçu River – and the fact that this source, already in its lower course, is used to meet a significant portion of the demand for water in the Metropolitan Region of Salvador. The definition of water use rules by the Paraguaçu Basin Committee must take into account the construction of a plan focused on the real situation of uses in order to promote a more efficient management of water resources in the area of ​​influence of the dam . Bearing in mind that the climatic conditions are beyond human control, the uses of water in the Apertado Dam need to be adapted to the current reality - living with little water availability. If urgent measures are not adopted to control these uses, the supply of water given by this reservoir will have its demands compromised in the coming years. | A Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Paraguaçu é considerada a mais importante do estado da Bahia dentre outros fatores por possuir vários reservatórios ao longo do curso principal do seu rio que contribuem para atender demandas de usos diversos. Em termos de conflito pelo uso da água é a bacia do estado baiano que mais demanda por ações de planejamento e de disciplinamento do uso dos recursos hídricos, em particular em seu trecho alto, onde está localizada a Barragem do Apertado. Isso ocorre graças à presença de uma avançada agricultura irrigada. A construção da Barragem do Apertado contribuiu para o desenvolvimento econômico da região, através da ampliação da área irrigada - a exemplo do Pólo Agrícola Mucugê-Ibicoara -, e também com o aumento da pressão sobre o meio ambiente, o que eleva a importância da realização de avaliações visando verificar a sustentação dessas atividades, no que tange aos recursos hídricos. Essa importância cresce quando considerados os aspectos sistêmicos – a integralidade do rio Paraguaçu – e o fato desse manancial, já em seu baixo curso, ser utilizado para atender uma parcela expressiva da demanda de água da Região Metropolitana de Salvador. A definição das regras de usos da água por parte do Comitê de Bacia do Paraguaçu deve levar em consideração a construção de um planejamento voltado para a real situação dos usos com o intuito de promover uma gestão mais eficiente dos recursos hídricos na área de influência da barragem. Tendo em vista que as condições climáticas fogem do controle humano, os usos da água na Barragem do Apertado precisam ser adaptados à realidade atual - de convívio com pouca disponibilidade hídrica. Caso não sejam adotadas medidas urgentes para o controle desses usos a oferta de água dada por este reservatório terão suas demandas comprometidas nos próximos anos.

26 páginas | La participación ciudadana se encuentra en el núcleo mismo de la concepción y el alcance de la democracia. Facilita la distribución equilibrada y más igualitaria de las políticas públicas, las acciones y los logros sociales para satisfacer las necesidades de las sociedades. Y en materia ambiental, y especialmente en tratándose de satisfacer las necesidades de agua, se convierte en instrumento que facilita la mejor toma de decisiones por el Estado como administrador del recurso natural, en su deber de planificación del manejo y aprovechamiento de este recurso natural renovable. Pero, por otra parte, en la interminable y cada vez más acuciante necesidad de prevenir los conflictos y definir estrategias más eficientes para resolverlos, la participación ciudadana es insustituible. Aunque se corre el riesgo de que ella, en cambio, los genere como oposición a veces alejada de las realidades y necesidades colectivas alrededor del agua. | Citizen participation is at the very core of the conception and scope of democracy. It facilitates the balanced and more egalitarian distribution of public policies, actions and social achievements to satisfy the needs of societies. And in environmental matters, and especially in trying to satisfy water needs, it becomes an instrument that facilitates the best decision-making by the State as administrator of the natural resource, in its duty to plan the management and use of this renewable natural resource. But on the other hand, in the endless and increasingly pressing need to prevent conflicts, and define more efficient strategies to resolve them, citizen participation is irreplaceable. Although there is a risk that it will instead generate them as opposition, sometimes far from the realities and collective needs around the water.