The sprawling £2.1 billion Sao Francisco River diversion project in Brazil has left a trail of disillusionment among communities who were promised water security but continue to struggle with scarcity. For nearly two decades, 12 million people in the north-east have been reliant on this ambitious scheme, which channels water from the vast river into seasonally dry areas, yet for many, the promises remain unfulfilled.
Residents living near reservoirs fed by the diversion canal continue to report inadequate access to clean drinking water. Maria de Fátima Ferreira da Silva, a 54-year-old woman, exemplifies this plight. Despite being relocated to a 'productive rural village' supposedly equipped with amenities like running water and health centres, her community remains without reliable water connections – directly undermining the project's purpose.
The Sao Francisco River, stretching over 1,700 miles within Brazil's borders, supplies approximately 70% of the north-east region's water. The diversion project involved constructing extensive canals, infrastructure, and relocating approximately 2,000 properties, including around 848 vulnerable families to 'productive rural villages' (VPRs), which were supposed to offer them a self-sufficient livelihood.
However, reality in many VPRs contradicts this vision. Houses remain unconnected to water mains, while communal buildings stand vacant. Janaína Andrade, regional prosecutor for citizen rights in Paraíba state, has sharply criticised the project's execution, stating that relocated individuals were left without a reliable source of water – essential for both human consumption and agriculture.
The project, championed by former President Lula in 2006 as part of his growth acceleration programme, aimed to provide comprehensive water security. Although smaller-scale initiatives like 'Water for All' have improved access across the north-east, the scale and long-term success of such large infrastructure projects remain uncertain – especially given the increasing impact of climate change on desertification in the region.