REDUCTION OF WATER VOLUME OF SÃO FRANCISCO RIVER AFFECTS NORTHEASTERN ECONOMY AND POPULATION

"Transposition" or integration of São Francisco River, the most important river in Northeastern region of Brazil, has been considered by the Brazilian government as the solution for cyclical drought in that region.

However, socioeconomical problems have already started to occur, before conclusion of such huge and unpredictable project.

The text below is a translation from www.ambientebrasil.com.br

The reduction of the volume of the São Francisco River that stems from the federal Government's decision to reduce the water that is released by the reservoirs of hydroelectric power plants of Sobradinho and Xingó has affected the economic activity and the population in the Northeast.

Sectors such as agriculture, hindered by lower water availability for irrigation, navigation and fishing have suffered losses due to the fall of level of São Francisco River. "We want to know if, even with this prolonged drought, there is the possibility of increased flow. The Government has as a priority the electric power production, but the low flow of São Francisco brings serious consequences for the population that depends on the River, "said the Senator Antônio Carlos Valadares (PSB-Sergipe state).

Since April last year, the national water agency (ANA), in conjunction with the National Electric System Operator, authorized the reduction of flow coming out of reservoirs of Sobradinho and Xingó of 1,300 cubic meters per second to 1,100 cubic meters per second. The resolution was extended until April 30.

The measure was adopted because of the need to preserve the water storage in reservoirs and thus meet the demands of energy production in the Northeast, since the smallest volume of rains in the region due to drought in recent years has resulted in low levels of the São Francisco River.

The Director of operation of the Hydro Electric Company San Francisco (Chesf), Mozart Bandeira  Arnaud, acknowledged that the reduction of water flow brings problems for economic activity, but warned that the drop in water level released by power plants is essential for water security in the region and not only for energy production.

The Vice-President of the Committee of the São Francisco River basin, Wagner Soares Costa, emphasized that the emergency flow reductions have become recurrent and no studies of the environmental, social and economic impacts of this reduction have been performed". He believes that the measure is primarily driven from ANA to energy security to the detriment of other uses of water.