ABSTRACT
In South American water systems, small cities, rural settlements, and irrigated agriculture rely on water sources that are increasingly variable and vulnerable to overexploitation and pollution, raising uncertainty over future water security and Sustainable Development Goals such as 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, 2 – Zero Hunger, 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities and 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth. To secure water for food, economic development, and the environment, the operation of some systems needs improved reliability and long-term sustainability, which cannot be provided solely by water supply sources managed separately. Surface and groundwater need coordinated and conjunctive strategies for water bodies protection and water supply planning, management, and operation. This chapter explores how this can be achieved through study cases in Brazil and bibliographical review, which are the potential benefits, and most importantly, the water management framework and instruments that should be set in place to make conjunctive use feasible and contribute to improving water security.
