Water consumption should continue to be reduced.

GABRIELA MOLL, FROM AGÊNCIA BRASÍLIA - The conscious consumption of water in the Federal District continues to be a priority in 2017. Even with the beginning of the rainy season, the city is experiencing the highest rainfall levels. water crisis In the history of the reservoir, on December 30, 2016, the volume of the Descoberto River Dam, which supplies 65% of the population, reached 22,9% — half of what was recorded in 2015, 45,8%. According to a survey by the Water, Energy and Basic Sanitation Regulatory Agency (Adasa-DF), this is the lowest level ever measured in the reservoir. The comparison is even more drastic when compared to 2013, when the level was at 92,7%.

Responsible for supplying 22% of Brasília's water, the Santa Maria reservoir continues its downward trend in water volume. On December 30, 2016, the level was at 42,6%, slightly more than half of the previous year's level, which reached 77,7% on the same date. Three years earlier, in 2013, the level was 96,9%.

At 7:30 am this Wednesday (4), the Descoberto River Dam was at 21,29% of its capacity, and the Santa Maria reservoir, at 42,13%. Ideally, both should remain above 60%. Another 13% of the inhabitants of the DF consume water from streams and springs.

“We’ve noticed that, at the end of each year, the rates are the lowest ever recorded, and that’s something that worries us a lot,” says Adasa director Israel Pinheiro Torres. According to him, the agency monitors the numbers and is relying on the containment measures adopted by the local government in 2016, such as the collection of… contingency fee, Reduction of water pressure in 13 administrative regions, Restriction on the hours for water collection by tanker trucks. and guidance for establishments such as car washes.

Measures were also taken, such as an agreement with farmers to restrict the use of irrigation systems and a mandatory 10% reduction in water consumption in government agencies in Brasília.

Less rain in the Federal District in December.

“We reduced the flow of water collected at Descoberto by 15,7% — from 5,1 to 4,3 liters per second — but we are not ruling out the possibility of rationing,” emphasizes the president of the Environmental Sanitation Company of the Federal District (Caesb), Maurício Luduvice, who adds that the goal is to reduce the flow rate by 20%.

The possibility of rationing gains strength if the water volume falls below 20%. Adasa and Caesb are studying ways to mitigate the crisis without resorting to this measure, which, to be applied, will take into account three factors: the rate of decline in the basins, rainfall forecasts for the Federal District, and the level of consumption by the population. “We need everyone to preserve this finite resource. We will reduce consumption as much as possible, since the rain hasn't arrived as we would like,” reinforces Luduvice.

According to data from Caesb, the rainfall volume in December 2015 was around 50%, while in 2016 it did not reach 25%.

In the accumulated period from September to December, the recorded rainfall was 498 millimeters, slightly more than in 2015, which registered 450 millimeters. Even so, the rate of recovery of the Descoberto reservoir levels is insufficient, since the Upper Descoberto Basin has historically recorded a volume of 669 millimeters during the same period.

Popular participation in combating the water crisis

To inform the public about the drought in the Federal District, Adasa created a website Regarding the issue, in addition to investing in educational campaigns, “Dissemination is essential so that the population has an idea of ​​what is happening. We noticed that there was a significant response from people, who were sensitive to the low levels in the reservoirs,” says the director of Adasa.

The president of Caesb also appeals to the public to use water consciously. "Holidays are already a period when consumption decreases, but we need to go further."

Other water catchment systems in the Federal District

To alleviate pressure on existing reservoirs, the government of Brasília is counting on three other initiatives. With construction having begun in November, the... Bananal subsystem It should bring water to 170 residents of Plano Piloto, Cruzeiro, and Lago Norte starting in 2017. In partnership with the government of Goiás, the Corumbá 4 Production System It should supply 1,3 million people in homes across the two states.

There is also a project to capture water from Lake Paranoá, currently under discussion. When completed, the Paranoá System will serve approximately 600 residents of Paranoá, São Sebastião, Lago Norte, Sobradinho, Sobradinho II, the Grande Colorado condominiums, and Planaltina.