Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ground Water: Strategic or Emergency Reserve

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Waters of Brazil

Abstract

Ground water in Brazil is progressively being exploited to supply cities and urban centers, as well as for industries, irrigation and tourism. It is estimated that there are 416 thousand wells in the country, with an annual increase of 10.8 thousand new wells being drilled, meeting the needs of 30–40 % of the population. This exploited volume is still small when compared to the potentials of their renewable reserves of 42,000 m3 s−1. Despite its considerable contribution to the social economic development of several regions of the country, and its ecological role in maintaining the base flow of water bodies, management of ground water is still incipient and does not reflect its current and strategic importance. The lack of public policies reflects the current lack of information regarding the total amount of water being used from aquifers, as well as the lack of knowledge regarding the risks of anthropogenic contamination to which they are subjected, and which affect water quality. The water matrix of the country does not contemplate this resource in a correct way, and therefore loses opportunities of using it efficiently. If water were used correctly, cost could be lowered regarding installation and operation of supply systems, in addition to protecting the water in issues related to climatic changes. Challenges for adequate managements include: (a) discipline of ground water use; (b) protection of aquifers and catchment with regards to anthropogenic contamination; and (c) establish technical solutions for an integrated and efficient use of surface and ground water.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agência Nacional de Águas (ANA). (2005a). Panorama da qualidade das águas subterrâneas no Brasil. Brasília. Retrieved from http://www.ana.gov.br/sprtew/recursoshidricos.asp.

  • Agência Nacional de Águas (ANA). (2005b). Disponibilidade e demandas de recursos hídricos no Brasil. Brasília. Retrieved from http://www.ana.gov.br/sprtew/recursoshidricos.asp

  • Cagnon, F., & Hirata, R. (2004). Source of nitrate in the ground water of Admantina Aquifer in Urânia (SP, Brazil). In IAH International Congress, 2007, Lisboa. Proceedings of IAH International Congress. Lisboa: International Association of Hydrogeologists.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardoso, F., Oliveira, F., Nascimento, F., Varella Neto, P., & Flores, P. (2008). Poços tubulares construídos no Brasil. In Congresso Brasileiro de Águas Subterrâneas, 15, Natal. Natal: ABAS. CD-ROM.

    Google Scholar 

  • CETESB. (2009). Áreas declaradas contaminadas no Estado de São Paulo. Retrieved March, 2009, from www.cetesb.sp.gov.br.

  • Costa Filho, W., Santiago, M., Costa, W., & Mendes Filho, J. (1998). Isótopos estáveis e a qualidade das águas subterrâneas na planície do Recife. In Congresso Brasileiro de Águas Subterrâneas, 10, São Paulo. São Paulo: ABAS. CD-ROM.

    Google Scholar 

  • CPRM. (2007). Mapa de Domínios/Subdomínios Hidrogeológico do Brasil Escala 1:2.500.000. CD-ROM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dias, C., Barbour, E., Modesto, R., & Casarini, D. (2008). A importância do monitoramento das águas subterrâneas na gestão dos recursos hídricos. In Congresso Brasileiro de Águas Subterrâneas, 15. Natal: ABAS. CD-ROM.

    Google Scholar 

  • DNPM. (1983). Mapa hidrogeológico do Brasil, 1:5.000.000.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster, S., Hirata, R., Gomes, D., D’Elia, M., & Paris, M. (2002). Ground water quality protection. Washington, DC: The World Bank. 103 p.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hirata, R. (1994). Fundamentos e estratégias de proteção e controle da qualidade das águas subterrâneas: Estudo de casos no Estado de São Paulo. Tese de Doutorado, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirata, R., Bastos, C., & Rocha, G. (1997). Mapeamento da vulnerabilidade das águas subterrâneas no Estado de São Paulo (1st ed., Vol. 2). São Paulo: Secretaria do Meio Ambiente do Estado de São Paulo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirata, R., Ferrari, L., Ferreira, L., & Pede, M. (2002). La explotación de las aguas subterráneas en la cuenca hidrográfica del Alto Tietê: Crónica de una crisis anunciada. Boletín Geológico y Minero, 113(3), 273–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirata, R., Zobbi, J., Fernandes, A., & Bertolo, R. (2006). Hidrogeología del Brasil: Una breve crónica de las potencialidades, problemática y perspectivas. Boletín Geológico y Minero, 217(1), 25–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iritani, M. (1998). Modelação matemática tridimensional para a proteção das captações de água subterrânea. Tese de Doutorado, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moraes, L., Santos, R., & Souza, M. (2008). Monitoramento das águas subterrâneas como instrumento de gestão: O caso da CAESB, DF. In Congresso Brasileiro de Águas Subterrâneas, 15, Natal. Natal: ABAS. CD-ROM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rebouças, A. (1988). Ground water in Brazil. Episodes, 11(3), 209–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rebouças, A. (1999). Águas Subterrâneas. In A. Rebouças, B. Braga, & J. G. Tundisi (Eds.), Águas doces no Brasil: Capital ecológico, uso e conservação (pp. 117–150). São Paulo: Escrituras Editora.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viviani, J., Hirata, R., & Aravena, R. (2004). Estimation of ground water recharge in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, SP, Brasil. In IAH International Congress, 2007, Lisboa. Proceedings of IAH International Congress. Lisboa: International Association of Hydrogeologists.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoby, J. (2008). Panorama da qualidade das águas subterrâneas no Brasil. In Congresso Brasileiro de Águas Subterrâneas, 15. Natal: ABAS. CD-ROM.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoby, J., & Matos, B. (2002). Águas subterrâneas no Brasil e sua inserção na Política Nacional de Recursos Hídricos. In Congresso Brasileiro de Águas Subterrâneas, 12. Florianópolis: ABAS. CD-ROM.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Geologia Sedimentar e Ambiental, Centro de Pesquisas em Águas Subterrâneas, Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Lago, no 562, 05508-080, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Ricardo Hirata

  2. National Water Agency, Asa 5, Quadra 3, Bloco L, sala 236, Setor Policial Sul, 70610-200, Brasília, DF, Brazil

    José Luiz Gomes Zoby & Fernando Roberto de Oliveira

Authors
  1. Ricardo Hirata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. José Luiz Gomes Zoby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Fernando Roberto de Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ricardo Hirata .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ecologia, Instituto de Botânica, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Carlos Eduardo de Mattos Bicudo

  2. Instituto Internacional de Ecologia, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

    José Galizia Tundisi

  3. Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Marcos Cortesão Barnsley Scheuenstuhl

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hirata, R., Zoby, J.L.G., de Oliveira, F.R. (2017). Ground Water: Strategic or Emergency Reserve. In: de Mattos Bicudo, C., Galizia Tundisi, J., Cortesão Barnsley Scheuenstuhl, M. (eds) Waters of Brazil. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41372-3_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation