WATER SECURITY PROGRAMS: CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES

Abstract

The study on water safety, emphasizing the watershed, shows the emergence of another culture of understanding, and involving various segments of society. Although water safety should address in an integrated manner, historically, the focus in the semiarid region of Brazil was on the quantitative aspects. The water quality management was restricted to industrialized humid regions, in the South and Southeast regions. The search to ensure water for society, in appropriate quantity and quality, involves identifying the role of government agencies (federal, state and municipal) in charge of the process. The paper presents conceptual basis of water quality,
pollution, possible pollution sources of contamination of water bodies and safety of water quality. Some national and international practices of security of water quality are also described.

Key Words: watershed, water quality, water safety.