Preservation of water resources demands participation and transparency

In the theme panel "Challenges for the sustainable use of water", held at the Instituto Ethos’ 2007 Conference, Antônio Félix Domingues, Soil & Water Conservation Superintendent at the Agência Nacional de Águas – ANA (National Water Agency), considered the implementation of a charge for the use of water, following the approval of the Water Code (Act no. 9433) in 1997, as the main advance occurred in Brazil towards sustainable management of this natural resource. In addition, he stressed the importance of the resolutions of this legal provision for a participative management of water resources through the Basin Committees.

However, there was unanimity among the panelists about the need to enhance this participation, especially in urban areas. Mario Mantovani, director of Mobilization of Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica, advocated "transparency and participation" as the "buzzword" for all civil society in favor of water resources conservation.

Another panelist who advocated a structural action to achieve water sustainability was Marcos Helano Fernandes Montenegro, director of Development and Technical Cooperation of the Ministry of the Cities. "Access to water in the cities is the portrait of the Brazilian urban centers injustice we see today. This problem won’t be solved if we don’t remove the poor population from the stream and river banks of our cities", stressed Montenegro.

In Montenegro’s opinion, this measure requires deep discussion about poverty, real state speculation, and impermeable surfaces. He even suggested during the debate that we need to consider charging for rain water drainage to water springs areas. However, this discussion must be carried out in a "comprehensive and democratic" way. According to Montenegro, "it’s no longer viable to hire public services in the water supply and sanitation area without a project resulting from a deep discussion with the population involved". This was made mandatory by Act no. 11.445, passed last January.

This requirement includes the business initiatives. Reporting on Coca-Cola actions in this area, Marcos Simões Coelho, the company’s managing director, considered the participation of entities such as SOS Mata Atlântica and the WWF critical to manage its projects. Coelho explained that, by doing so, the society can be sure the actions will be really implemented and, also, that they will be better aligned with the community needs.

Coca-Cola has recently approved a R$ 27 mi investment in a project called Água das Florestas Tropicais Brasileiras (Brazilian Rain Forests Water), in Serra do Japi/Alto Piraí, in the upper Tietê river basin, state of São Paulo. The project foresees the recovery of the natural riparian vegetation by planting 3.3 million trees, in 3,000 hectares.

One of the Watershed Basin Committees (CBH) that most advanced in the implementation of joint management is the Rio Paraíba do Sul one, which will be receiving funds this year from water use charge collection. According to Edílson de Paulo Andrade, executive secretary of the Rio Paraíba do Sul Watershed Basin Committees (CBH-PS), the payment slips are being sent and a collection of around R$ 2.5 mi is expected by the end of the year. The resources will be totally invested to the benefit of the basin.

However, according to Andrade, there are big challenges. The greatest is solving the issue regarding the water transfer from Paraíba do Sul river into the Gandu river basin, which has been done for over 40 years to supply the Greater Rio de Janeiro area. This transfer has a discharge load of 160 thousand cubic meters per second, accounting for almost 70% of the river’s water volume. The problem, according to him, is that the Rio de Janeiro state legislation does not allow the water cost to be passed on to the consumers. This results in the State Water Department’s refusal in paying for the costs.

The companies’ role in water management is critical, according to Ivanildo Hespanhol, full professor at the Department of Hydraulic and Sanitary Engineering of Universidade de São Paulo Polytechnic School. Studies carried out in his department involving 2,311 companies from São Paulo showed that companies are altogether responsible for 113 cubic meters per second of water and discharge 84 cubic meters per second of effluents. The environmental impact is evident. The studies also showed that, as a result of water use charging, it will become much cheaper for these companies to treat these effluents and adopt water reuse as much as possible.

It is mathematical. The cost of treated water reaches R$ 8.75 per cubic meter. By treating effluents and reusing water, companies can reduce this cost to less than R$ 1.00 per cubic meter. The solution, in the professor’s opinion, depends on a change in paradigms. Starting from the eradication of the current water abundance thinking that prevails in Brazil, which creates "the popular water brooms and the Cleopatra baths", moving on to supply management, regulatory development and, finally, political will.