Three decades searching for a managed recharge solution for Brazil’s invisible waters
Published in Earth & Environment and Sustainability
The Paradox of Abundance and Scarcity
Brazil holds one of the world’s largest freshwater reserves, yet suffers frequent water crises. Groundwater is increasingly used, but most wells are informal and unmonitored. MAR offers a strategic way to intentionally replenish aquifers—but remains absent from national policy.
Managed Aquifer Recharge?
Yes! Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) is the intentional storage of surface water into underground aquifers for later use. Unlike natural recharge, MAR uses engineered systems like infiltration ponds and injection wells to enhance groundwater availability.
It reduces evaporation, improves water quality through natural filtration, and supports drought resilience. However, the MAR strategies are still lacking in Brazil’s water management policies.
Mapping Thirty Years of MAR Research in Brazil
We reviewed thousands of articles to identify MAR-related studies in Brazil, mapping techniques, regional applications, and research gaps to understand how MAR is being explored in the country.
Fragmented Knowledge on Aquifer Recharge in Brazil
Scientific research on MAR in Brazil remains limited and dispersed. Most documented cases are small-scale and rural, using infiltration ponds, open wells, and riverbank filtration. The Northeast and other semi-arid regions are the most studied, reflecting their chronic water stress. São Paulo, despite being the most populous state and a major groundwater user, has relatively few MAR publications so far - though research is beginning to expand.
Simple recharge techniques, like small infiltration dams and subsurface dams, are widely implemented but underrepresented in academic literature. While current studies are scattered, the growing network of researchers shows potential for stronger collaboration and integration in the near future.
A Strategy Still Missing
Although MAR offers clear benefits for drought resilience and water security, Brazil still lacks a coordinated national strategy to support its implementation. Existing policies are limited and fragmented, and recharge practices are often treated as isolated or experimental efforts.
Pilot projects remain scarce and are rarely monitored or publicly disseminated. Without clear standards, regional assessments, and integration into water governance, MAR continues to be overlooked in formal planning.
To unlock its full potential, Brazil needs targeted policies, technical guidance, and inclusive planning - especially in regions most vulnerable to climate change.
From Knowledge to Action
This review was developed by researchers from the University of São Paulo’s (USP) Groundwater Research Center (CEPAS), within Project SACRE – Integrated Water Solutions for Resilient Cities. Supported by FAPESP, CNPq, and USPSusten, the team works to advance MAR in Brazil by translating research into actionable frameworks and promoting its integration into planning, regulation, and locally adapted water management practices.
Read the Full Study
Explore the complete article at Discover Water.
Leonardo is an Environmental Engineer and PhD in Soil Science. Had a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of São Paulo, working with groundwater. Primarily focuses on pollution, environmental monitoring, water resources, water treatment, the Amazon, and science communication. Currently conducting postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Follow the Topic
-
Discover Water
This journal is part of the Discover journal series. It is an open access, community-focussed journal publishing research from across all fields relevant to water research.
What are SDG Topics?
An introduction to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Topics and their role in highlighting sustainable development research.
Continue reading announcementRelated Collections
With Collections, you can get published faster and increase your visibility.
Advances in Understanding of Surface Freshwater Processes and Quality: Monitoring, Restoration, Remediation and Treatment
Surface freshwaters, including rivers, lakes and streams are essential to both ecosystems and communities as they are essential for human health, development and prosperity, and are critical for global nutrient cycling. However, anthropogenic activities and changing climate, have introduced pollutants and contaminants and environmental change that significantly affect fundamental aquatic processes required for healthy and productive surface freshwater systems. Therefore, there is a need for novel advances in effective water quality monitoring, remediation, restoration and treatment solutions that can enhance our understanding and management of surface freshwaters.
This Collection seeks to explore novel advances in:
• Fundamental microbial processes within surface freshwaters.
• Restoration and/or remediation of surface waters including nature-based solutions, decentralized technology solutions and community projects.
• Water quality monitoring technologies, including in situ real time solutions, and low-cost systems appropriate for citizen science programmes.
• Decentralized treatment technologies to improve surface water quality or transform surface waters for alternative uses e.g. drinking water, irrigation, energy and healthcare.
Keywords: Freshwater systems; fundamental microbial processes; nature-based solutions; novel decentralized treatment technologies; novel water quality monitoring technologies and approaches; in-situ real time monitoring; citizen science.
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3, SDG 6, SDG 10, and SDG 14.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Dec 30, 2026
A Sustainable Use of Water Resources for Energetic Purposes
This Collection aims to provide a comprehensive platform for showcasing interdisciplinary research related to the appraisal and management of water resources.
The energy sector relies heavily on water resources, using substantial amounts to meet our energy needs. The sustainability of water resources should be both quantitative and qualitative, preserving their thermal and chemical characteristics before and after energetic use. One of the key focuses of the collection is the sustainable use of water as a geothermal source of energy for space heating and cooling, electricity production, as well as a underground thermal energy storage systems.
With growing global water scarcity and increasing demand for reliable water sources, many research efforts are addressing water shortages and helping to secure our energy needs through sustainable ideas, which contribute against energy poverty in remote areas. Additionally, the focus includes considering water resources for multiple purposes that complement the use of water for energy purposes, making them versatile and usable in various contexts of energetic use of waters.
Through interdisciplinary research spanning engineering, hydrogeology, hydrology, thermodynamics, materials science, environmental analysis, economic evaluation and social aspects, this Collection seeks to foster effective and scalable solutions. These diverse fields contribute to understanding the complex interactions between water use and energy production, ultimately aiming to supply decision-makers with the data and frameworks necessary for shaping sustainable water use practices that promote sustainable development, resilience, synergy, and beyond.
Expected contributions may cover recent developments aimed at a more conscious and sustainable use and management of water resources for energetic purposes. This includes applications in industry, water consumption, health, space heating and cooling, as well as thermal energy production (e.g., open loop systems) and storage (e.g., ATES, aquifer thermal energy storage).
Keywords: Sustainable water use; Water resources; Energy sector; Geothermal waters; Geothermal energy; Geothermal heating and cooling; Thermal energy storage; Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage; Interactions between water use and energy production; Open loop systems; Groundwater management; Seawater; Environmental protection; Economic evaluation; Water consumption.
This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 8, SDG 9, SDG 11 and SDG 12.
Publishing Model: Open Access
Deadline: Nov 01, 2026
Please sign in or register for FREE
If you are a registered user on Research Communities by Springer Nature, please sign in