Adaptability of the city of Belo Horizonte to changes in rainfall patterns – a case study of the Ressaca Stream Basin

Abstract

With the impermeabilization of urban soils and the increase in the frequency of heavy rains, conventional drainage systems have become obsolete, resulting in the occurrence of floods. In this sense, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of implementing urban drainage compensatory techniques in Ressaca stream basin - Belo Horizonte - MG. For this, scenarios were proposed that contemplate the current condition of occupation of the basin, verifying the possible techniques to be adopted, and a future situation, which envisages a new pattern of urban development and an equation IDF that incorporates non-stationarity conditions. The increase in peak flow rates observed when comparing the scenarios that contemplate the different perspectives of IDF, although quite expressive, could be attenuated with the implementation of techniques that contribute to reducing runoff volume. This study findings evidence the hydrological benefits that compensatory techniques could promote in the face of a scenario of changes in rainfall patterns.