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NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL GROUNDWATER PROJECT |
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Newsletter
April
1999
Vol.
1, No. 1
| Content:
Overwhelming Response to the Recent Call for Expressions of Interest_ Other links (this site): Canada-Brazil Project Home Page_ Call for Expressions of Interest_ Summary of Dec. 98 Mission to NE-Brazil_ Bulletin
(French version of this Newsletter)_
Other links (outside) Precipitation data for NE-Brazil (Ceará) - daily_ Precipitation data for NE-Brazil (Ceará) - February 1999_ Babelfish
(used for translations at this site) great tool !!_
Contact: Dr. Yvon Maurice
Tel: (613) 995-4748
e-mail: ymaurice@gsc.NRCan.gc.ca_
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We hope to reach all those who are interested
in the Groundwater Exploration and Management Project for Northeastern
Brazil by way of this newsletter. Our intention is to use this vehicle
to periodically provide updates on the project and transmit new ideas,
results and milestones. We have assembled a comprehensive e-mail master
list to notify the "membership" of new releases. If you have been notified
of this release, then you are on the list; if you would like to be removed
from the list, please let us know.
The Groundwater Exploration and Management Project for Northeastern Brazil (or the NE-Brazil Groundwater Project, or NEBGWP for short) is a technology transfer program designed to enhance the capacity of Brazilian institutions involved in groundwater exploration, research and management, to conduct surveys and studies that will effectively lead to long term improvement in the water supply situation in northeastern Brazil. The program will be supported financially by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and coordinated by the Geological Survey of Canada in partnership with the Geological Survey of Brazil (CPRM) and the Brazilian Groundwater Association (ABAS). More information can be found elsewhere on this site. A good place to start is the project Home Page. In June 1998, a preliminary proposal for a project aimed at improving
access to safe water for northeastern Brazil, one of the most populated
semi-arid regions on earth and currently experiencing severe drought conditions,
was submitted to CIDA for funding under its Canada-Brazil Technology Transfer
Fund (TTF). The proposal received favorable reviews by both CIDA and the
Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), the Canadian Embassy in Brasilia, as
well as by several Brazilian organizations that were identified as potential
participants in the project: state government agencies, waterworks companies,
and research institutions. In a letter dated September 16, 1998, CIDA formally
invited GSC and its partners to submit a full proposal in compliance with
the TTF protocol.
But before such a proposal could be prepared, information was needed
on two essential topics :
Gathering of information on the second topic was accomplished through a "Call for Expressions of Interest" posted last month on the official Government of Canada Electronic Tendering site known as MERX. With this posting, we were hoping to reach most public and private institutions and individuals involved in groundwater research in Canada. Although the official announcement had a March 5 deadline and was removed from the MERX site on that day, it continues to be posted on our server without any specific deadline. Indeed, we will be glad to receive offers to participate anytime during the entire duration of the project. Call for Expressions of Interest Over seventy (70) organizations and individuals have responded thus
far to the Call for Expressions of Interest,
which far exceeds our original expectations. We take this opportunity to
convey our deepest gratitude to all those who have answered. Your responses
will help us immensely in putting together a meaningful program.
Letters of interest came from across the country, providing a wealth
of information and ideas on one of the most important aspects of this project
: what technologies can Canada offer Brazil to help bring solutions to
its water problems in the northeast? The answer : there are many. In fact,
there is no doubt that Canada is in a good position to provide Brazil with
the right stuff and contribute significantly to improving living conditions
in the northeast.
The responses will be used initially as a basis for discussion with our Brazilian counterparts to design a relevant program. Later, they will be a source of inspiration in the preparation of the full proposal to CIDA. Talk of team work! Preliminary Project Plan Although our thoughts on the structure of the project are still in
a certain state of volatility (and will remain so until more discussions
with the Brazilian project participants take place), at this time we would
like to share some ideas that we have been entertaining for the past several
weeks. These ideas, as might be expected, were influenced largely from
the responses to the Call for Expressions of Interest, and from the December
1998 Project Development Mission to NE-Brazil.
We view the project being loosely sub-divided into a dozen or so
areas of expertise. In principle, each area will be handled by a different
group of experts, although, in practice, there will be cases where several
groups will contribute to one area, and a single group will contribute
to more than one area. What is important, is to apply the collective talent
that Canada has to offer, in the most productive manner. It will be the
coordinator's job to ensure cross-fertilization between the groups and
between the Canadians and the Brazilians. Another important role of the
coordinator, and indeed of every group involved in the project, will be
to ascertain that all project activities respond to the project's social
mandate : to bring long term relief to the communities in need.
The following are the proposed project sub-units. We remind the reader
that this program is strictly a technology transfer exercise which will
involve teaching, training, testing, demonstrating, and carrying out pilot
studies jointly with Brazilian colleagues. We hope, and indeed we expect,
that there will be follow-up activities generated by the technology transfer
program, but this will be part of an implementation component to be funded
by Brazil through separate sources (as indicated in the Call
for Expressions of Interest). We anticipate that in most
cases, Canadian participants in these projects will be chosen by open
competition using the Government's tendering system.
(1) GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE GROUNDWATER SITUATION IN NE-BRAZIL At the onset of the project, to determine the needs of the community
and the capacity of local institutions to deal with the region's water
problems. This sub-project will examine all facets of the water situation
in NE-Brazil and recommend a plan of action. Team members (2 or 3 people
at the most) should have a wide range of experience of semi-arid third
world environments. We hope to set up this project to include the participation
and collaboration of of one or two Brazilian hydrogeologists familiar with
the situation in NE-Brazil.
(2) REMOTE SENSING / GIS Interpretation of satellite images (Radarsat, Landsat, etc.) is a
powerful technique to detect features at or near the earth surface which
can reveal the presence of water underground (regional and local structures
in the earth crust, vegetation pattern, buried channels, etc.). This component
of the program will have a very strong training and technology transfer
element. There will be comprehensive assessment of Brazilian capabilities
to carry our remote sensing projects, with training in Canada and in Brazil.
Canadian institutions that will be involved in this project should have
access to state-of-the-art equipment with which to train the Brazilians.
(3) AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICS Geophysics, specifically electrical and electromagnetic techniques,
are amongst the most important tools in groundwater exploration; airborne
geophysics can provide data over large areas quickly and economically.
Electromagnetic techniques are capable of mapping variations in groundwater
salinity, which promises to be very useful to the groundwater exploration
effort in NE-Brazil. Due to the high cost of airborne geophysical surveys,
however, supplemental funding will be sought to carry out this component
of the project. Additional moneys may come from special funds within Brazil
or from outside (e.g. the World Bank). There will be a training component
for the interpretation phases of the project.
(4) GROUND GEOPHYSICS Ground geophysical techniques are used to pinpoint structures in
the earth crust that contain water or that may influence the accumulation
of water in underground reservoirs. There are numerous techniques including
a variety of electromagnetic and electrical methods, seismic, gravity,
radar, magnetic, etc., many of which have not been tried, at least with
state-of-the-art equipment, in the semi-arid regions of NE-Brazil. The
project will cover a variety of techniques which will be tested in the
field in carefully selected areas where the results can be used directly
to find water for communities in need. Training will take place both in
the field and in the classroom. The communities will be consulted for area
selection and will be kept informed of the results and any follow-up plans.
(5) HYDROGEOLOGY OF FRACTURED ROCKS Understanding groundwater flow and interconnectivity of fractures
in a fractured aquifer environment is important to determine the water
retention capacity and potential productivity of aquifers of the types
found in NE-Brazil. This knowledge is crucial for the application of many
of the groundwater management techniques that form part of this project.
Canada has gained a wealth of experience on all aspects of water flow in
fractured aquifers during the exhaustive studies performed in the Canadian
Shield in support of the radioactive waste disposal programs. The opportunity
has now arrived to apply this knowledge to help find a solution to a third
world humanitarian problem. Canada is, by far, the most advanced nation
in this field. The hydrogeology community of Brazil will benefit immensely
from Canadian experience in this area.
(6) GROUNDWATER MODELLING Modern computer software programs can be used to simulate how groundwater
and contaminants flow under different environmental parameters and bedrock
conditions. Such models can then be used to predict the effectiveness of
various groundwater management and remediation measures. Groundwater modelling
is very appropriate for training members of the academic community who
use computers on a regular basis. Models developed during the course of
this project should be based as much as possible on NE-Brazil data. To
achieve this, close collaboration with other sub-projects will be required
for data collection, and proper testing and applications.
(7) GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT: SPECIAL TECHNIQUES Amongst the most promising technologies that can bring long term
solutions to the water problems of NE-Brazil are techniques such as artificial
aquifer recharge, aquifer flushing, water mixing, hydro-fracturing, etc.
Most of these techniques have been applied successfully in Canada and in
other countries, but most have not been properly tested in NE-Brazil. Testing
and the application of these technologies will require supporting activities
such as trenching, drilling of wells, pumping, etc., which will be carried
out with the technical and financial support of state government organizations
and waterworks companies. Training of personnel from these organizations
as well as community education will be important components of these projects.
(8) GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT: RURAL INFRASTUCTURE PROJECTS Various Canadian companies and individuals with experience in water
supply projects in third world semi-arid countries will be invited to share
their experience and assess the situation in NE-Brazil from that point
of view, and make recommendations. Pilot projects will be carried out in
collaboration with Brazilian institutions. These will focus on community
needs and will include low-technology projects such as well rehabilitation,
pump repair, maintenance, etc. Teams will include social workers with experience
in community education.
(9) GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT: CONTAMINATION AND SITE REHABILITATION To evaluate and mitigate problems related to aquifer contamination
near disposal sites in urban areas and near the larger communities. Activities
under this heading will only take place if contamination of aquifers in
the vicinity of disposal sites near the larger rural communities is found
to be a problem, and the Brazilians request assistance. Experienced companies
and individuals may be invited to share their experience with the Brazilians
by participating in seminars and field training sessions.
(10) GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT: SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT This sub-project will introduce different types of equipment to provide
alternate and perhaps more efficient means of accomplishing certain tasks.
For example, solar pumps, reverse osmosis and other desalinization and
water purification technologies (e.g. distillation, ozone), storm water
management devices, etc., may find useful applications in NE-Brazil.
Brochures from Canadian manufacturers of such equipment will be presented
to potential users in Brazil. If there is interest, then seminars or demonstrations
of the equipment will be arranged either in Brazil or in Canada.
(11) HYDROGEOLOGY/ HYDROGEOCHEMISTRY RESEARCH This will provide opportunities for joint Canada-Brazil university-based
research on various aspects of hydrology, hydrogeology, and hydrogeochemistry.
The project will focus initially on the chemistry of the groundwater in
an attempt to understand the cause of the high salinity and evaluate its
impact on life, particularly on the agricultural sector. This component
will provide long term linkages between key Canadian and Brazilian institutions,
and may produce extremely valuable data concerning the water supply of
NE-Brazil.
(12) COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROJECTS Community consultation and education projects will be conducted in conjunction with all of the other activities in the program in order to ensure that the project responds to the needs of the community and that project activities are well understood and agreed upon by the community leaders and the population in general. These projects will be delivered by Canadian social workers with relevant experience, in collaboration with local (Brazilian) NGOs or other specialists in community social issues. Some companies have social workers among their staff and/or work in close collaboration with Canadian institutions that provide such services. Forthcoming project activities include:
Meetings will be held with representatives of key Brazilian institutions to design a preliminary program based on Brazilian needs and priorities, and available Canadian technology and expertise. Cost sharing and social planning will be important issues in the discussions. The cities of Natal and Recife, which were not included in the December 1998 mission, will be on the agenda. Three or four Brazilian scientific/technical personnel which could include staff members from CPRM, academic institutions and/or the private sector, will visit Canada this summer. The duration of the visit has not yet been decided, nor has the itinerary. For logistical reasons, the group will probably tour institutions that are located within easy reach of Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. Anyone or any group who would like to meet the Brazilian delegation and/or have a visit of their installations included on the agenda, should contact the organisers at GSC. |
