São Francisco Hydrographic Region

The São Francisco Hydrographical Region is of great importance to the country, not only because of the large volume of water it conveys to a semi-arid region but also because of its potential hydric resources and its historic and economic contribution to the region. This overview provides a summary of the São Francisco hydrographic region, listing the information under the following main topics: general characterization, socioeconomic data, basic sanitation indicators, water availability and use, a summary of current conflicts and a desirable scenario. A schematic map shows the region's priority aspects, highlights its problems and opportunities and defines the institutional approach to hydric questions.

Figure 1 The São Francisco Hydrographic Region