Brazil is betting on an innovative solution to tackle the drought: a 145-kilometer artificial river.
The project, known as Cinturão das Águas do Ceará (CAC), is nearing completion, with 91% progress as of December 2025, and is expected to be finished by June 2026, according to Fernando Santana, Ceará’s Secretary of Water Resources.
This impressive infrastructure aims to transport water from the São Francisco River Integration Project to the arid areas of Ceará’s interior, where the scarcity of rain is a constant challenge.
The first section of the CAC extends from the Jati dam to the Cariús river in Nova Olinda, using a combination of open-air channels, siphons, and tunnels.
A key aspect of this project is its efficient use of gravity to move the water, thus reducing the need for constant pumping.
This not only decreases energy costs but also makes the system more sustainable, with a handling capacity of up to 30 cubic meters per second.
An artificial river as a solution
The potential impact of the CAC is significant. The Ceará Water Resources Secretariat estimates that the system will directly benefit 561,000 people in 24 municipalities.
Moreover, by linking with the Eixão das Águas, it could improve the water supply for more than five million inhabitants, including those in the metropolitan region of Fortaleza. The priority use of this water will be for human consumption, followed by industrial, tourism, livestock, and agricultural uses.
It is important to clarify that not seeing water in some sections of the canal does not mean a system failure. According to the Ceará government, the water flow is adjusted based on demand, especially during periods of drought or when parts of the project are completed.
This ensures that the system is operational when most needed, already demonstrating its effectiveness, as occurred in February 2024, when water was released from kilometer 53 to the Castanhão reservoir, reinforcing the supply for 4.5 million people.
The goal of the CAC is ambitious: to connect 12 river basins in Ceará with the São Francisco River. Although the project is large-scale, its purpose is simple: to bring water where rain does not frequently reach.
In a region where the lack of water affects agriculture, the economy, and daily life, this work could make a significant difference.
