Water Resources in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area (RMSP): the underuse of Billings Reservoir

Year 2022, Volume: 1 Issue: 5, 21 - 54, 20.06.2022

Dr Leandro Miyazaki , Luis Antonio Bittar Venturi

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to highlight and analyze the factors that explain the underuse of the Billings Reservoir in the Sao Paulo Metropolitan Area, based on data that covered 5 years. This research was guided by hypothesis that the underuse is related to the pollution, due to domestic waste and/or non-household waste and garbage discharge. The method consisted of an evolutionary analysis of the Billings pollution levels and then on a dynamic and integrated analysis of the variables that support the hypotheses. Results showed that, in general, the Reservoir’s water quality tends to worsen. In addition, the irregular garbage discharge into the Reservoir is still at high rates. In this sense, it was concluded that the variables analyzed (pollution levels, sewage, and garbage amount) provided favorable evidence for the confirmation of hypothesis. However, interviewees emphasized the membrane separation processes, such as ultrafiltration and nanofiltration, which together to other techniques may turn the water from Corpo Central (the most polluted area) fit for use. In other words, although pollution is the main problem, there are already modern technologies to treat such water.

Keywords

Natural Resources, Water Resources, Billings Reservoir, Underuse

References

• BRASIL. Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Diretoria de Geociências. Vocabulário Básico de Recursos Naturais e Meio Ambiente. 2. ed. Rio de Janeiro: Ibge, 2004. 332 p.
• CAPOBIANCO, João Paulo Ribeiro; WHATELY, Marussia. Billings 2000: ameaças e perspectivas para o maior reservatório de água da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo. São Paulo: Instituto Socioambiental, 2002. 59 p.
• Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo. Secretaria do Meio Ambiente. Qualidade das Águas Interiores no Estado de São Paulo. São Paulo: Cetesb, 2017. 282 p.
• Companhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo. Relatório de Sustentabilidade 2016. São Paulo: Sabesp, 2016. 101 p.
• Governo do Estado de São Paulo. Secretaria do Meio Ambiente. Relatório de Qualidade Ambiental. São Paulo: SMA, 2016. 300 p.
• HESPANHOL, Ivanildo. Água e saneamento básico. In: REBOUÇAS, Aldo da Cunha (Org.). Águas doces no Brasil: capital ecológico, uso e conservação. 3. ed. São Paulo: Escrituras, 2006. Cap. 9. p. 269-324.
• Instituto Brasileiro de Proteção Ambiental. Relatório sobre a Vulnerabilidade Hídrica da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo. São Paulo: PROAM, 2015. 28 p.
• RODRIGUES, Raphael; MIERZWA, Jose Carlos; VECITIS, Chad D. Mixed matrix polysulfone/clay nanoparticles ultrafiltration membranes for water treatment. Journal of Water Process Engineering, v. 31, p. 100788, 2019.
• VENTURI, Luis Antonio Bittar. The New Concept of Natural Resource and Its Derivations. International Journal of Water Management and Diplomacy, v. 1, n. 1, p. 48-60.
• VENTURI, Luis Antonio Bittar. Water’s Flow of Peace. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2020.