The impact of poor governance on water and sediment quality: a case study in the Pitimbu River, Brazil
Applying a collaborative approach under a power-sharing institutional structure, coupled with a shift in paradigms, sustainable water resources management often requires political-institutional reform to achieve its goals. Most of Brazil’s river basins are subject to rapid urbanization; however, bas...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2014-09-01
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| Series: | Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.proc-iahs.net/364/429/2014/piahs-364-429-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1819258938019807232 |
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| author | L. Moreira J. Adamowski S. Gaskin A. Saraiva |
| author_facet | L. Moreira J. Adamowski S. Gaskin A. Saraiva |
| author_sort | L. Moreira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Applying a collaborative approach under a power-sharing institutional structure, coupled with a shift in paradigms, sustainable water resources management often requires political-institutional reform to achieve its goals. Most of Brazil’s river basins are subject to rapid urbanization; however, basin stakeholders generally lack sufficient institutional capacity to address the attending water resource issues. Subject to urbanisation, the Pitimbu River basin supplies potable water to approximately 280 000 people in Brazil’s Natal region. This study investigated how current institutional models influence both water management and fluvial contamination by metals. Sediment samples collected at eight sites along the river revealed elevated levels of Pb, Fe, Al, Ni and Zn, whose sources were linked to industries, vehicles, as well as agricultural and construction wastes. Aluminium enrichment of surface waters was mainly linked to inadequate sanitation infrastructure. In light of this, the region's poor institutional capacity must be addressed through institutional reform, including a new management structure open to public collective water management planning. In so doing, Brazil's water policies should acknowledge capacity building as a critical element of institutional reform. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:02:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e334ff190259452c9f4a5c35b6285ecb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2199-8981 2199-899X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T19:02:04Z |
| publishDate | 2014-09-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-e334ff190259452c9f4a5c35b6285ecb2022-12-21T17:34:42ZengCopernicus PublicationsProceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences2199-89812199-899X2014-09-0136442943410.5194/piahs-364-429-2014The impact of poor governance on water and sediment quality: a case study in the Pitimbu River, BrazilL. Moreira0J. Adamowski1S. Gaskin2A. Saraiva3DEC/CT/UFRN, Campus Universitário, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, 59082-970, BrazilDepartment of Bioresource Engineering, McGill University, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, CanadaDepartment of Civil Engineering, McGill University, 817 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3 CanadaDEC/CT/UFRN, Campus Universitário, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, 59082-970, BrazilApplying a collaborative approach under a power-sharing institutional structure, coupled with a shift in paradigms, sustainable water resources management often requires political-institutional reform to achieve its goals. Most of Brazil’s river basins are subject to rapid urbanization; however, basin stakeholders generally lack sufficient institutional capacity to address the attending water resource issues. Subject to urbanisation, the Pitimbu River basin supplies potable water to approximately 280 000 people in Brazil’s Natal region. This study investigated how current institutional models influence both water management and fluvial contamination by metals. Sediment samples collected at eight sites along the river revealed elevated levels of Pb, Fe, Al, Ni and Zn, whose sources were linked to industries, vehicles, as well as agricultural and construction wastes. Aluminium enrichment of surface waters was mainly linked to inadequate sanitation infrastructure. In light of this, the region's poor institutional capacity must be addressed through institutional reform, including a new management structure open to public collective water management planning. In so doing, Brazil's water policies should acknowledge capacity building as a critical element of institutional reform.https://www.proc-iahs.net/364/429/2014/piahs-364-429-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | L. Moreira J. Adamowski S. Gaskin A. Saraiva The impact of poor governance on water and sediment quality: a case study in the Pitimbu River, Brazil Proceedings of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences |
| title | The impact of poor governance on water and sediment quality: a case study in the Pitimbu River, Brazil |
| title_full | The impact of poor governance on water and sediment quality: a case study in the Pitimbu River, Brazil |
| title_fullStr | The impact of poor governance on water and sediment quality: a case study in the Pitimbu River, Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of poor governance on water and sediment quality: a case study in the Pitimbu River, Brazil |
| title_short | The impact of poor governance on water and sediment quality: a case study in the Pitimbu River, Brazil |
| title_sort | impact of poor governance on water and sediment quality a case study in the pitimbu river brazil |
| url | https://www.proc-iahs.net/364/429/2014/piahs-364-429-2014.pdf |
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