Groundwater and the Right to Water in a Context of Crisis

Abstract

The water crisis tends to intensify the use of groundwater, which supplies almost half of Brazilian population. Despite that, its management is precarious. The article analyses the role of groundwater and its management in the current context of water crisis and forward the need to ensure the human right to water. The methodology used is the documentary analysis of literature, legislation, international documents and governmental reports. The fragilities over management and the private appropriation of groundwater threaten water security. The water crises focus in the idea of scarcity stimulates the quest for new sources but does not face the structural flaws of the management models. So the use of aquifers reflects the same problems that have allowed the degradation of surface waters, which is aggravated by the hidden character and the irregular exploration.

Water Availability of São Francisco River Basin Based on a Space-Borne Geodetic Sensor

“…More so, the assessment of the impact of 2012-2015 drought event on the surface water reservoirs should be further investigated by considering satellite altimetry and satellite imagery missions. Thus, considering the TWS, surface water storages, and soil moisture fields (satellite-based and/or model-based data), it is possible to estimate the groundwater variations since the current water crisis in Brazil tends to intensify its use, which supplies almost half of Brazilian population and despite that, its management is precarious [69].…”

Definition of the Connotation of Water Right in the Transitional Period and Research on its Management Patterns- Based on the Reform Experiences of Several Countries

“…[10] It covers the conferring, adjustment, transformation, and trade of water rights, and the aim of strengthening water right management is to achieve fair and reasonable utilization, allocation, saving, and protection of water resources, thus maximally meeting the demands of the whole society for water and consequently realizing the greatest social, economic, and environmental benefits.…”

Contaminação das águas subterrâneas por compostos orgânicos na bacia hidrográfica do rio das Velhas, no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

“…A água subterrânea apresenta excelente qualidade e disponibilidade, sendo indicada para o consumo humano, muitas vezes dispensando tratamentos caros e complexos, (Gonçalves et al 2005). Villar (2016) cita que a crise hídrica tende a intensificar o uso das águas subterrâneas, as quais garantem o abastecimento de quase metade da população brasileira.…”