Demand and Water Availability in the Hydrographic Basins of Southwestern Goiás, Brazil

Abstract

The dynamics between the demand for water and its availability is fundamental to economic activities, especially in the Brazilian Cerrado, where water demand is often greater than the safe flow. In this study, we evaluated the demand and the availability of water for this resource in stretches of drainage in six watersheds in the municipality of Rio Verde, Goiás state, Brazil. The availability of water was assessed using a Water Availability Index (WAI), which is based on the demand for water and the 95% guaranteed streamflow (Q₉₅). Overall, the analysis revealed that 74.88% of the area of the study basins is covered by cultivated land, with a total of 9.3 m³ s^–1 of flow being captured for irrigation. The WAI revealed that conditions are normal in 91.28% of the watercourses in the study basins. However, a small proportion (4.88%) of the watercourses were in a critical situation, where the demand for water is greater than the Q₉₅ streamflow. The results of the study indicated that areas in a critical situation must be accompanied by adequate strategies for the management of water resources that guarantee both multiple uses of the available water and the conservation of local biodiversity.

The WAI indicated that the demand for water was greater than its availability.