Contribuição para revisão do plano diretor de recursos hidricos da bacia hidrografica do Rio das Velhas: o impacto da mineração do Alto Rio das Velhas

Abstract

Water Resources Management is a powerful tool for many society sectors as water resources are limited and essential to life on Earth.In Brazil, XXth century was a transition age from comfort to stress scenarios regarding water availability, inducing water management tools development. Water Management concerns were made wide since Federal Law nº 9.433 proclaim, at January, 8th, 1997, which defined National Water Resources Policy and created National Water Resources Management System. This fact reflected on all states legislation and motivated first water resources plans elaboration. Das Velhas River Water Resources Plan (PDRH Velhas) was approved on December, 2004, by Das Velhas Watershed Committee (CBH Velhas). There were identified water conflicts from huge water supply demands on its higher portion, which included about 60% of Belo Horizonte metropolitan area (RMBH) water supply system intakes. This plan was suppose to be updated every 2 years, which in fact didn´t happen.On the last years, mining sector in this watershed was highly demanded, which leaded to related water demand increasing when compared to development scenarios estimated on PDRH Velhas. As PDRH Velhas is supposed to be reviewed on 2011, this work analyzed mining impacts on Das Velhas river higher course from Instituto Mineiro de Gestão das Águas (IGAM) database, and other secondary information available, comparing results to anticipated demands from PDRH Velhas. Results show a strong increasing on water demands related to the mining sector, but also suggests that the worse threaten to water resources on Das Velhas River higher course is non treated sewage disposal on water courses, which should be a priority on PDRH Velhas revision.