6.1 – Water supply system

Urban water supply in the Federal District is the responsibility of the Federal District Environmental Sanitation Company – CAESB, which is composed of twelve systems: Descoberto-Paranoá (the old Descoberto, Torto/Santa Maria, Sobradinho/Planaltina and São Sebastião systems), Brazlândia, Água Quente, Incra 8, Basevi, Vale do Amanhecer, Papuda, Chapéu de Pedra, Engenho das Lajes, Total Ville (Setor Meirelles), Santa Mônica and Palmeiras. In 2018, these systems used 26 surface and 181 subterranean fountainheads to attend over 99% of the Federal District population. The quality of the water distributed is systematically monitored, with analyses of the treated water being performed at 15 Water Treatment Stations – ETA as well as in samples taken at different points in the supply system.

In 2017, due to a water crisis, The Federal District Environmental Sanitation Company (CAESB) implemented water production subsystems from the Paranoá Lake and Bananal River seeking to increase water production. Besides this, it interconnected the Descoberto, Torto/Santa Maria, Sobradinho/Planaltina and São Sebastião systems and installed a transfer of water between the Descoberto and Torto/Santa Maria systems. There is also consideration of the Sistema Corumbá (Corumbá System) which should supplement supply to the Southern portion of the Federal District territory, preferentially attending the cities of Santa Maria, Gama and Recanto das Emas as well as increasing the water available to supply the cities of Taguatinga, Ceilândia, Águas Claras and Vicente Pires.