Review about water and the history of policy for coping with droughts in the Brazilian semiarid region

Abstract

Water is an indispensable input for both the maintenance of life and for the viability of industrial and agricultural production. In view of this, this article provides a historical review of water policy in Brazil, highlighting, above all, its evolution in the semi-arid region. To this end, a bibliographic review was carried out of various sources dealing with the subject. We also used some of the main laws, normative landmarks, along with data obtained from official sources, which guided the discussions presented here. An analysis was also made, using IRaMuTeQ software, of the work entitled "The water issue in the Northeast", a book released by the Center for Strategic Management and Studies (CGEE) in partnership with the National Water Agency (ANA) in 2012. It was concluded that the water policies developed in the semi-arid portion of the Brazilian Northeast have allowed for better coexistence with the drought phenomenon and, consequently, enabled greater development in this highly populated area of the country.