21/03/2005 - An impressive
88% of Brazilians believe that the country
will face freshwater supply problems in the
medium or long run due to the way water is
used today.
Among young people, the figure is even higher:
94%. Most Brazilians aged from 16 to 24 years
are partly aware of the problems related to
freshwater resources and deems it important
not to waste any water. Around 73% among them
think that domestic consumption (in their
own homes) could be lower than it actually
is. Nevertheless, 64% of them spend from 6
to 15 minutes in the shower.
Around 74% of the Brazilian population is
in favor of a law setting payment of one or
two cents of Reals (local currency) for each
thousand liters of freshwater used by those
who spend more or those who pollute, as long
as the funds be used to raise awareness about
the use of freshwater and to recover and protect
river basins.
This and much more on consumption habits
and discernment of the water issues were revealed
by a survey commissioned via HSBC support
to WWF-Brazil's Freshwater Programme, and
done by the Brazilian Public Opinion and Statistics
Institute (Ibope), one of the most respected
independent survey companies in the country.
The results were announced on March 11 at
WWF-Brazil's headquarters, in Brasília
(DF), by its CEO Denise Hamú and the
Fresh Water Programme Coordinator, Samuel
Barrêto. "This survey is very important,
not only to evaluate the Brazilian knowledge
on the water issues, but mainly to measure
the impact of our programme on the population",
Denise Hamú said.
The Ibope polled one thousand people all
over the country, aging from 16 on, in all
income ranges and education levels to evaluate
the level of knowledge about the problems
affecting water resources and their commitment
to solve such problems. The results were also
divided by state, region and status of the
cities (capital or not), downtown or borough
areas. Brazil is the largest Latin American
country and the 5th in the world (8,5 million
km2). Its population is of about 160 million
people.
The results will guide the actions of the
Water for Life, Water for All Campaign, which
aims, among other targets, to alert the Brazilian
public, governments and the private sector
about the significance of conserving and managing
the water resources and, at the same time,
optimise its multiple uses.
Waste - Among the main problems that may
affect water supply in Brazil, waste was pointed
out by 44% of the general population, while
another 13% said pollution and mismanagement.
Supply - To avoid wasting water, 50% proposed
to switch off the tap while brushing their
teeth and spending less time in the shower.
In Rio de Janeiro, 25% didn't know what to
do to avoid waste; nationally. 12% said the
same.
The poll also showed that the population
has a misperception about who is responsible
for greatest water consumption: most of the
surveyed people (41%) said industry; 34% of
respondents said household was the greatest
user while 18% said agriculture; in fact the
greatest water use is by agriculture at 70%,
iundustry at 20% and household, 10%.
River Basin Committees and participation
- Although there are 100 river basin committees
and over 40 inter-municipal consortia in the
country, 70% of Brazilians never heard anything
about their existence. Only 29% heard about
them but two thirds of these could not tell
what they exist for. "These are extremely
alarming data, due to the fact that the committees
- besides not being few - are the means for
the communities to participate on the management
and conservation of water resources",
said Samuel Barrêto.
And there is interest: 65% of the interviewed
persons stated their willingness to "participate
in a group to decide about the water use where
they live, or to volunteer to help with for
water conservation", and 76% would participate
in campaigns for the restoration of water
ecosystems and for the responsible use of
water.
