Author(s): Carlos de Oliveira Galvão, Maycon Breno Macena da Silva and Márcia Maria Rios Ribeiro
Linked Author(s): Maycon Breno Macena da Silva
Keywords: Hydrolink; human-water interactions; participatory management; drought management; institutional adaptation; adaptive cycle theory
Abstract:
The Brazilian Water Policy (BWP) establishes water permits as one of its management instruments. Such water rights prescribe the amount of water that can be withdrawn by the user from a water body, such as a river, aquifer, or reservoir. The water permits have a fixed duration of validity, e.g., five, ten, or more years, after which they have to be reassessed by the water management agency. During the period of validity, the water permit amount may be temporarily reduced if an extreme event occurs, such as an exceptional drought. Until recently, the reduction in the water quantity granted in the permits was decided by the water agency, following simulations of short- and medium-term water availability scenarios in the river basin.
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