WATER PROTECTOR
The Water Protector project promotes the recovery and preservation of water resources for the 26,000 residents living in the urban and rural areas of Vera Cruz - RS in the Andréas Stream Sub-basin. The focus is on providing better water quality in more reliable volumes, even during periods of drought. PMB joined in 2019 and remains the sole sponsor.
It serves 26,000 residents in urban and rural areas of the Arroio Andréas Sub-basin.
Methodology
One of the main objectives of the project is the recovery of water resources frequently found on agricultural land. By fencing off these areas, protecting them from the impacts of livestock and other agricultural factors, small farmers can, in effect, become 'water producers', offering them direct access to cleaner water while supplementing their income through Payment for Environmental Services (PES). Thanks to seasonal monitoring by the University of Santa Cruz do Sul since 2011, the data have demonstrated significant improvements in the water quality of the Arroio stream.
Fencing protects agricultural areas and improves water quality.
Results
Since 2019, the project has optimized 139,485 m³ of water, and the team's aspiration is that in the next five years it will contribute even more to PMI's water KPI. In 15 years, water production has increased from 48 L/s to 95 L/s, even during periods of drought; during the May 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul, the project helped mitigate the impacts of rainfall, contributing to the prevention of erosion and siltation in the channels. The methodology is scalable to other regions of Brazil, efficient in mitigating climate risk, and in connecting biodiversity preservation with financial incentives.
The project mitigated the impacts of the May 2024 floods, preventing erosion and siltation.
Protector of the Waters