Study of Sustainability Indicators for Environmental Management in Hydrographic Basins

Abstract

The great population advance and the unrestrained consumption of natural resources have contributed to the accelerated deterioration of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the aquatic system. In general, Brazilian hydrographic basins are in environmental degradation, which may also compromise human life in the near future, often a consequence of inadequate public policies. Therefore, this research aims to get to know and study the main sustainability indicators used in the environmental management of the Hydrographic Basins of the Piracicaba, Capivari, and Jundiaí rivers, in order to analyze the existing environmental impacts. Considering the importance of the water resource and all the problems involving the critical issue of water in Brazil, it is emphasized that sustainability indicators are important for the management of basins and sub-basins, as they serve as a basis for the formulation of action plans to propose improvements and implement solutions. Thus, the results obtained from the information and data collected can be used to understand the indicators related to water resources in the municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Campinas, in order to alleviate water scarcity and related problems.