Number of dams in critical condition in Brazil increased by 53% to 187

A report published by the ANA (National Agency for Water and Sanitation) shows that 187 dams in Brazil were in critical condition last year, 66 of which were in Minas Gerais. From 2020 to 2021, the number of structures in this situation increased by 53%. Here is the full report.

According to the document, a total of 9,451 dams have APD (Associated Potential Damage), with 68% having a high damage potential.

According to the PNSB (National Policy on Dam Safety), APD can be high, medium, or low. The classification is “based on the potential loss of life and economic impact, storage volume, and social and environmental consequences of a potential dam failure,” the report states.

In 2020 and 2021, 701 dams were included in the SNISB (National Dam Safety Information System). Currently, 22,654 structures are registered in the system, of which 5,474 are subject to the PNSB, 4,313 are not, and another 12,867 (57%) do not have enough information for classification.

After the tragedies of Mariana (2015) and Brumadinho (2019) tragedy in Minas Gerais,  dam safety policy was tightened in 2020.

INVESTMENTS

Investment in dam safety also broke records in 2021. The budget amounted to about R$ 199 (US$37) million, of which 34% came from the federal sector and 66% from the state sector.

The amount actually paid in 2021 was also the highest in the historical series: about R$128 million (64% of the initial forecast).

According to the ANA, the federal government made the largest expenditures for the rehabilitation of dams (R$41 million) and the restoration of reservoirs as part of the integration project of the São Francisco River with the hydrographic basins of the Northeast (R$25 million).

More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error