Brazil: Alto tietê basin

Abstract

The Alto Tietê basin is located in São Paulo state, in the Southeast region of Brazil.It corresponds to the upper part of the Tietê River, which flows roughly westwardsto join the Paraná River. The huge urban agglomeration of São Paulo places enormousdemands on the Tietê River and other water resources, and improved management ofthese resources has been a subject of discussion since the 1970s, when técnicos (technicalgovernment officials) from São Paulo state took the lead in promoting integratedwater resource management. Increased political freedom within Brazil during the 1980sencouraged the process of decentralization in decisionmaking. During the 1990slegislation on decentralized water resource management in Brazil was first approvedin São Paulo state, with the Alto Tietê basin being one of the forerunners in thisprocess.The new institutional arrangements set up during this period have had to cope withnumerous problems, including pollution of water sources and competing demands forlimited supplies. The actual process itself has been beset with difficulties, includingtension between state and basin-level institutions and their respective responsibilities,and continued disagreement over such issues as water use pricing. As a result the mainAlto Tietê Committee has found it difficult to function effectively, and the subbasin committeeshave emerged as more effective organs (Formiga Johnsson 2004).