Programas, projetos, ações públicas e gestão das águas no semi-árido: uma avaliação em Januária, MG

Abstract

Water has vital importance for human beings and animal species survival, and for biodiversity maintenance and food production. Water distribution is uneven and despite the fact that Brazil is a privileged country, there is a region called Semi-Arid that illustrates an uncertain water distribution system. Here the population faces some difficulties in management, especially in supply and demand. This work addresses the programs, projects and actions developed to deal with water scarcity in Semi-Arid, specifically in Januária, a city located on high-medium Rio São Francisco, in the northern region of Minas Gerais. We have identified ten programs, projects and actions that in some way satisfy the standardization of water distribution. This is intended to explore and assess the methods developed to increase potential, diversify and maintain the water supply, and the ability to improve the quality of life and increase the population´s income. The methodology which has been adopted is composed of a qualitative study and regarded as a case study. The information was collected by documental analysis, using interview guides such as a focused interview and non-participating observations. We observed that although the organizations studied in this work have different ways of administering all the programs, projects or public actions, they are very important and contribute to normalizing the water supply in Semi-Arid in Minas Gerais. It must be said that there is no single program, project or action sufficient to solve all the domestic and productive needs of the rural families.