Hydroenvironmental characterization of the Turvo and Grande Watershed

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective – To investigate the characteristics, availability, demand and quality of water resources in the Turvo and Grande River Basin (UGRHI 15), located in the northwest of the State of São Paulo, with the aim of providing technical and scientific support for the sustainable management of this territory.

Methodology – A quantitative and descriptive approach was adopted, based on the analysis of secondary data extracted from official documents of the Water Resources Coordination and the Turvo and Grande Watershed Committee, complemented by a comprehensive bibliographic review on the subject.

Originality/Relevance – This study addresses the theoretical gap related to the integrated assessment of water resource availability, demand, and quality in basins with intensive land use for agriculture and urban expansion. Its relevance lies in the need for constantly updated data and diagnostics to inform public policies and planning instruments in contexts of increasing water pressure.

Results – The main results indicate a continuous reduction in per capita water availability, increased exploitation of underground aquifers to the detriment of surface water, and worsening water quality due to the expansion of monocultures and the suppression of native vegetation. An increase in the number of water use permits was also observed, particularly for the agricultural sector and urban water supplies.

Theoretical/Methodological Contributions – The study reinforces the importance of integrating technical data and spatial diagnostics in understanding regional water dynamics, in addition to contributing methodologically to analyses based on public and verifiable data, applicable to other river basins with similar characteristics.

Social and Environmental Contributions – The findings contribute to the formulation of measures for conservation, management and rational use of water, with direct impacts on the well-being of the local population, water security and environmental preservation, promoting a balance between socioeconomic development and the sustainability of natural resources.