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.

Most of the drinking water and the water for economic activities in the Central Valley of Costa Rica come from aquifers located in this region. However, many of these activities take place on the recharge zone of unconfined Barva aquifer, posing a threat to water quality. The aim of this study was to develop a map of pollution load to the Counties of Santa Barbara, and San Rafael Barva, Heredia, Costa Rica, as a first step in the generation of a risk map for Barva aquifer. Activities were selected and classified according to the POSH method (Origin Surcharge Hydraulically Pollutant). Then, the study area was divided into a grid of 250 x 250 m and the maximum value of the potential for generation of a pollutant load was assigned, according to the value assigned to the activities into that cell. Of the 2103 cells, 45% had at least one activity with an elevated potential, 32% with at least one activity with moderate potential, 14% with at least one activity with reduced potential and 9% with zero potential. Furthermore, the areas above Bambinos and Los Angeles sub aquifers were identified as the most critical. The information generated will contribute to the design and implementation of more stringent control measures, designed to minimize the probability of contamination. | La mayor parte del agua para consumo humano y para el desarrollo de las actividades económicas en el Valle Central de Costa Rica proviene de los acuíferos ubicados en dicha región. Sin embargo, muchas de estas actividades se llevan a cabo sobre la zona de recarga del acuífero libre Barva, representando una amenaza a la calidad de sus aguas. El objetivo de este estudio fue elaborar un mapa de carga contaminante para los cantones de Santa Bárbara, Barva y San Rafael, Heredia, Costa Rica, como un primer paso en la generación de un mapa de riesgo para el acuífero Barva. Para esto, se seleccionaron, ubicaron y clasificaron las actividades, según el método POSH (Pollutant Origin Surcharge Hydraulically). Luego, el territorio se subdividió en celdas de 250 x 250 m y a cada una se le asignó el valor máximo de potencial de carga contaminante, según el valor asignado a las fuentes en esa celda. De las 2103 celdas, un 45% se encontró bajo al menos una actividad con potencial de carga contaminante elevado, un 32% con al menos una actividad con potencial moderado, un 14% con al menos una actividad con potencial reducido y un 9% con potencial nulo. Además, los subacuíferos Bambinos y Los Ángeles fueron identificados como los sectores más críticos. La información generada contribuirá al diseño e implementación de medidas de control más estrictas, encaminadas a minimizar la probabilidad de contaminación.

Most of the water for human consumption and the development of economic activities in the Central Valley of Costa Rica is supplied by the aquifers located in this region. Nevertheless, many of these activities are located in the recharge area of the Barva free aquifer, representing a threat to the quality of the water. The objective of this study was to develop a pollution load map for the municipalities of Santa Barbara, Barva and San Rafael, in Heredia, Costa Rica, as a first step towards generating a risk map for the Barva aquifer. To this end, the activities in this region were identified, located and classified using the POSH method (commonly known as "Pollutant Origin and Surcharge Hydraulically"). Then, the area was divided into 250 x 250 m cells and each received the maximum potential pollutant load according to the value assigned to the sources in the cell. Forty-five percent of the 2103 cells were found to contain at least one activity with a high potential for generating a pollutant load, 32% contained at least one activity with a moderate potential, 14% had at least one activity with a low potential and 9% did not have any activity with the potential of generating a pollutant load. In addition, the Bambinos and Los Angeles sub-aquifers were identified as the most critical sectors. The information generated will contribute to the design and implementation of stricter control measures aimed at minimizing the probability of pollution. | La mayor parte del agua para consumo humano y el desarrollo de actividades económicas en el Valle Central de Costa Rica es abastecida por los acuíferos ubicados en esta región. Sin embargo, muchas de estas actividades se ubican en la zona de recarga del acuífero libre de Barva, lo que representa una amenaza para la calidad del agua. El objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar un mapa de carga de contaminación para los municipios de Santa Bárbara, Barva y San Rafael, en Heredia, Costa Rica, como un primer paso para generar un mapa de riesgo para el acuífero Barva. Para ello, las actividades en esta región fueron identificadas, ubicadas y clasificadas mediante el método POSH (comúnmente conocido como "Origen de los contaminantes y recargo hidráulico"). Luego, el área se dividió en celdas de 250 x 250 my cada una recibió la carga contaminante potencial máxima de acuerdo con el valor asignado a las fuentes en la celda. Se encontró que el cuarenta y cinco por ciento de las 2103 células contenían al menos una actividad con un alto potencial para generar una carga contaminante, el 32% contenía al menos una actividad con un potencial moderado, el 14% tenía al menos una actividad con un potencial bajo y El 9% no tuvo ninguna actividad con potencial de generar carga contaminante. Además, los sub-acuíferos Bambinos y Los Ángeles fueron identificados como los sectores más críticos. La información generada contribuirá al diseño e implementación de medidas de control más estrictas destinadas a minimizar la probabilidad de contaminación. | Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica | Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas