O PRINCÍPIO DOS USOS MÚLTIPLOS DOS RECURSOS HÍDRICOS: UMA ANÁLISE A PARTIR DA BACIA DO RIO FORMOSO NO OESTE BAIANO

Abstract

This paper approaches the question of water resources planning and management at the State level and calls attention to the bias caused by the asymmetric treatment given by the federal government which, privileging the electricity sector as a user of water resources, places all other users to take in tow to the construction programme of the last hydro-electric projects on waters of the State domain. Referring to the multiple use principle, this paper reveals that the best management policy of water resources is the one in which such resources are equally accessible to all interested user sectors, but its predominance on the basin or water region must be given to the one that grants the greatest level of net social benefit. Analyzing the specific case of Formoso basin, on the west region of Bahia, this paper contributes to define technical parameters of decision, and thus to guide public and private actions and investments, aiming to optimize the available water resources on a basin system, with gains to the whole society.