The water conflict in Alto São Marcos: characteristics, dilemmas, and challenges

Abstract

Water scarcity is probably one of the greatest challenges imposed on modern societies and Alto São Marcos, a water planning unit located between the Federal District and the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais, represents well the conflicts that involve multisectoral water dispute as a resource. The conflict observed in this region is configured as a potential pilot case for the application of economic instruments for the management of the resource, being necessary, however, before, an adequate characterization of the economic environment, its dilemmas, and challenges. Thus, the objective of this work is to characterize the dispute between the irrigating and electric sectors, to present the history of the regulatory evolution of the instruments adopted, and to discuss the dilemmas and challenges imposed. To carry out this work, a contextualization of the basin was initially proposed regarding its main economic activities demanding the scarce resource; elaboration of a history of the main normative events tangent to the basin; and, finally, the identification of challenges to conflict resolution. Therefore, from the methodological execution, it was found that the complexity of the conflict crosses institutional limits and demands regulatory articulation between local and national priorities, in search of water security for the planning and expansion of uses. Situation that shows the importance of economic studies on the water and multisectoral remuneration dynamics in Alto São Marcos.