Innovative Water Management in Belo Horizonte

• City: Founded 126 years ago, Belo Horizonte spans 330 km² and is home to 2.3 million residents, with over 5 million people in the metropolitan area. The city boasts a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.81 and a GDP of US$88.28 billion, making it a significant economic hub in Brazil.

Belo Horizonte has implemented a comprehensive urban water management strategy to ensure sustainable water supply, efficient wastewater treatment, and robust urban drainage systems. The city’s initiatives focus on enhancing infrastructure resilience, flood prevention, and environmental sustainability while ensuring equitable access to clean water and sanitation services.

Belo Horizonte’s water management initiatives are driven by a combination of regulatory frameworks, investment in technology, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. The city employs a master drainage plan, frequent water quality monitoring, and continuous infrastructure maintenance to ensure long-term sustainability.

Key implementation measures include:
 

• Flood Risk Mapping: The identification of 82 flood-prone areas helps the city plan mitigation strategies effectively.
• Drainage System Improvements: 700 km of streams are managed, with channelization and preservation strategies in place.
• Water Quality Monitoring: More than 700 sampling points across the city ensure continuous monitoring and safe water distribution.
• Flood Warning System: Real-time monitoring of rainfall and river levels supports emergency preparedness and early warning systems.
• Sanitation Infrastructure Expansion: Increasing wastewater treatment capacity to improve environmental and public health outcomes.

Effective collaboration with national and international institutions has been fundamental to Belo Horizonte’s success in urban water management. Each offers different assets:
 

• Local and State Environmental Agencies: Offer regulatory oversight and policy integration.
• Civil Defense Authorities: Collaborate on disaster preparedness and risk reduction strategies.
• International agencies: Like the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB),  have financed several programs.

Belo Horizonte promotes awareness through community engagement initiatives, public education campaigns, and real-time data sharing on water quality and flood risks. These efforts aim to foster community resilience and encourage responsible water use.

Funding sources include municipal and state budgets, international research programs, and private sector partnerships. Approximately $25 million is allocated annually to urban water management projects, covering infrastructure maintenance, technological advancements, and monitoring systems. In 2025,  the Council is negotiating with IDB around $250 million for drainage infrastructure.

Belo Horizonte’s urban water management strategy has resulted in tangible improvements in water security, flood mitigation, and public health.
 

• Improved water security with extensive coverage and treatment facilities.
• Reduced flood risks through real-time monitoring and drainage improvements.
• Enhanced environmental sustainability by preserving natural waterways.
• Better disaster preparedness with flood warning systems and rapid response protocols.

Despite the project’s success, Belo Horizonte has faced several challenges.
 

• Infrastructure maintenance challenges due to rapid urbanization.
• Financial constraints limiting large-scale infrastructure upgrades.
• Public engagement difficulties in promoting behavioral change for water conservation.
• Regulatory limitations as the city must inspect and restore areas along national and state rivers despite them not being under municipal jurisdiction

• https://prefeitura.pbh.gov.br/estrutura-de-governo/politica-urbana/planejamento-urbano
• https://prefeitura.pbh.gov.br/obras-e-infraestrutura/informacoes/publicacoes/plano-de-saneamento
• https://prefeitura.pbh.gov.br/obras-e-infraestrutura/informacoes/diretoria-de-gestao-de-aguas-urbanas/drenurbs
• https://prefeitura.pbh.gov.br/obras-e-infraestrutura/informacoes/publicacoes/programa-reducao-riscos-inundacao-melhorias-urbanas-bacia-ribeirao-isidoro
• https://prefeitura.pbh.gov.br/sites/default/files/estrutura-de-governo/slu/2018/documentos/cartilha_pmgirs-bh.pd
• https://prefeitura.pbh.gov.br/obras-e-infraestrutura/conselhos/saneamento

Sônia Knauer
Manager of Sustainability Actions
Environment Secretariat
Belo Horizonte City Council
E: knauer@pbh.gov.br
T: +55 3246-0553