Étude de cas des impacts du projet DRENURBS dans le cours d’eau Bonsucesso

The city of Belo Horizonte, state of Minas Gerais, MG, Brazil, has implemented a developing program meant to promote a wider social and environmental integration of watercourses that have remained flowing in their natural riverbeds. It encompasses integrated actions to treat valley bottoms, improve road system, wastewater and solid residue collection, flooding control, resettling or removal families from risky areas, and installation of equipment for recreation and pastime. However, the methods adopted and their resulting attainments have been called into question. This paper presents a case study of a watershed included in the program, the watershed of Bonsucesso Creek, which has evaluated the pressures and impacts on the social and environmental systems, and the proposed actions. Sanitation, hydraulic, social and environmental solutions, although they’ve been planned in the projects, have not been fully implemented. As a result, the conventional methods adopted to control floods, stabilize and prevent riverside erosion have not solved social and environmental issues such as the ones related to water quality and public health.