Itaipu, Parquetec, and UFPR launch Hydrochemical Atlas of the Serra Geral Aquifer in Western Paraná.
Publication compiles five years of research and details the water quality that supplies more than 80% of the population in the Paraná River Basin. Part 3
247 - Itaipu Binacional, Itaipu Parquetec and the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) presented this Wednesday (27) the Hydrochemical Atlas of the Serra Geral Aquifer System in the Paraná Basin Part 3 (BP3), a document that systematizes the results of five years of research carried out by the Hydrosphere project. The material brings together unpublished data on the interaction between groundwater and surface water in Western Paraná.
The launch took place at an online seminar broadcast on the Itaipu School for Sustainability's YouTube channel. During the presentation, Itaipu's Director of Coordination, Carlos Carboni, emphasized the importance of the study for the region's future. "The protection of water resources is essential not only for human supply and sustainable social development, but also for hydroelectric power generation. It is an issue that becomes even more urgent in the context of climate change," he stated.
The Hydrosphere project began in July 2018 and, between 2019 and 2024, conducted analyses on samples collected from 38 public water supply wells. The work resulted in a detailed survey of the quality and characteristics of the water that serves more than 80% of the population of BP3. According to Lucas Garcia, the Itaipu project manager, the Atlas is the result of a rigorous technical and scientific process, capable of serving as a basis for research and decision-making in public policies.
According to Alexandre Gonçalves Leite, Director of Technologies at Itaipu Parquetec, the study has strategic value for the management of regional water resources. “The Serra Geral aquifer is a vital resource for western Paraná. Therefore, we need to continue this project, given its importance in guiding public policies, mitigating risks, and helping us to use this resource very responsibly,” he emphasized.
Professor Gustavo Athayde, coordinator of the Hydrosphere project at UFPR, emphasized the relevance of the initiative for science and society. "For the university, this is a very important moment, in which we are making scientific information available to society, which is a return on the investments made," he said. He reminded that groundwater plays an essential role in maintaining river flow, especially during periods of drought.
With this publication, the Serra Geral aquifer is consolidated as one of the most studied in the country. The Hydrochemical Atlas becomes a reference for researchers, public managers, and institutions working in water preservation, reinforcing the importance of the integration between science, sustainability, and regional development.