Urbanization, its effects on the degradation of watercourses and perspectives for revitalization in Recife-PE

Abstract

The urban stream syndrome is the result of inadequate urban planning, which, by including the canalization and cementing of watercourses, leads to high flows during heavy rains and the degradation of water quality due to domestic sewage, diffuse pollution, and uncollected solid waste. While, at first, hydrological and hydraulic knowledge was sufficient to deal with flooding, it can no longer solve the problem nowadays. Instead, it is necessary to find alternatives and merge knowledge from other fields of science to bring a multidisciplinary approach. This article examines the case of Recife, using a qualitative methodology that includes a literature review and brief case studies, since it is necessary to consider the complexity and multidimensionality of the context in which rivers and streams are inserted when they are located in urban areas. Recife is a city criss-crossed by rivers, but, over the course of its development, it has allowed them to deteriorate. Currently, its public administration, together with academics and its population, is trying to solve the issues resulting from this deterioration, developing initiatives to revitalize rivers and streams, such as the Projeto Capibaribe Melhor and Parque Capibaribe. These efforts highlight the need for practices that restore hydraulic, hydrological, ecological, and social functions. Thus, this study examines specific cases, such as the Sítio dos Pintos, Parnamirim, and Cavouco streams, as well as the small Jiquiá and Jordão rivers, which are of great importance to the city. It also talks about the presence of biodiversity despite the impacts of urbanization: together with community initiatives, this biodiversity contributes to the revitalization of these bodies of water.