Drought Warnings in Brazil Increase 409% in 13 Years

03/22/2017 - 12h16

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GUILHERME ZOCCHIO

FOLHA CONTRIBUTOR

Today, March the 22nd, is World Water Day, and there isn't much to celebrate in Brazil. Cases of drought that led to either declarations of emergency situation or public calamity increased dramatically between 2003 and 2015, according to the ANA (National Water Agency).

During this period, the number of episodes increased by 409%. Within the same timeframe, the number of municipalities that declared an emergency or calamity also increased due to the droughts. The increase was 199%.

The drought in the Northeast is the worst since 1961, according to the Center for Weather Forecasting & Climatic Studies of the National Institute for Space Research.

Based upon data from ANA, local reservoirs are at 13,8% of capacity. And according to the National Integration Ministry, 835 municipalities in the region are in a real state of emergency.

Specialists say that Brazilian policies related to water resources generally only function in the short term, and that investments in the area have been insufficient.

For scholars in the area, like USP (University of São Paulo) Meteorologist Maria Elisa Siqueira, historically repeating drought conditions in the country and the predictability of climate conditions through monitoring, have lead to a reasonable delay in the adoption of more sustainable water management practices.

The ANA admits, however, that it realizes now that there is the "necessity to update regulatory and management practices".

The Water Security Plan, under development by the ANA and the Integration Ministry, to be release in 2018.

It will recommend the critical projects and changes needed to improve management of water resources, including the construction of dams and pumping systems.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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