Multiple scale conflicts over water security in a semi-arid river basin: Banabuiu River Basin, Ceara - Brazil

Interactions between society and water systems are influenced by decisions at different levels, from local farmers to high-level policymakers. In drought contexts, an additional layer of complexity concerns uncertainties with regard to expected rainfall and drought durations. In semiarid northeast Brazil, the idea of ‘fight against drought’ for a long has been the dominant idea among policymakers aiming to deal with drought impacts. This idea prioritizes water-supply measures such as the construction of reservoirs for water storage and hydraulic infrastructures to promote water transfers.  

A polycentric governance lens is used to understand the interactions and influences of multiple governance systems with competitive and cooperative relationships over water resources. We analyzed the multiple scale challenges in water management in the Banabuiú basin in the state of Ceará, using minutes from official water committee meetings, and qualitative data from interviews conducted with smallholder farmers, field technicians and civil servants in November 2021.

Fieldwork interviews provided insights into conflicts of interest and prioritization of stakeholders involved in reservoirs' water management. Conflicts vary across scales and levels. On a river basin level, the over-reliance on water infrastructure contributed to a situation of conflict between irrigated farmers and urban users in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza. At the local level, conflicts exist between local communities depending on a reservoir and a state-level water-management organization, who decided to transfer water to a municipality located 25km away. Interviewees mentioned the government's decisions are “killing the river”. These cross-scale conflicts highlight the interdependencies between stakeholders and challenges in socio-hydrological systems.