Rio São Francisco water security threatened by sanitation gaps and land use

Research regarding the Rio São Francisco integration project highlights significant environmental vulnerabilities caused by inadequate sanitation and human activity. In the Apodi Branch, which spans municipalities in Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte, the lack of sewage collection and treatment poses a direct risk of surface and groundwater contamination to the hydraulic structures and canals.

Simultaneously, studies of the Upper São Francisco tributaries indicate that water springs are under intense anthropogenic pressure. Data shows a 300% increase in mining areas and a 150% increase in urbanized areas in the region. While annual precipitation has not changed significantly, minimum water flows have decreased. Most Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs) in these basins show high levels of alteration due to agricultural activities and urban expansion, necessitating urgent recovery strategies such as vegetation recomposition and improved monitoring to ensure long-term water security.