In modern engineering, sometimes the most effective solution to a complex problem such as drought It is, in essence, moving water from where there is excess to where it is lacking. But when that distance involves crossing the arid yesErton Brazilian, the task becomes a pharaonic work. That is why there are many eyes on one of the most ambitious water infrastructures in Brazil: the Cinturão das Águas do Ceará (CAC).
What is it about? Although this infrastructure can be greatly simplified and called an artificial river, the reality is that it is a complex canal system that work by gravity It is already close to 91% execution. Their objective is titanic, since with it they want to guarantee that the water reaches more than five million people in one of the areas with the greatest water stress in South America.
Its magnitude. This is not a project that was born out of nowhere, but the CAC is the final and crucial section that connects with the São Francisco River integration project, considered the largest water infrastructure project in the country. The key to this new phase lies in the design chosen.
According to data from the Secretariat of Water Resources of Ceará, the northern axis of the project starts from the Jati Dam from where the water runs through 145.3 km of canals crossing the Carini region.
How it works. It is undoubtedly the most interesting part of this entire pharaonic work, since the system is based mainly on gravity. Unlike other transfers that require massive and constant pumping, with the associated energy cost, the design of the CAC It takes advantage of the topography through a combination of open canals, tunnels and siphons so that water flows “downhill” from Jati to Nova Olinda and other municipalities.
Nourishing the watersheds. Although, as we have said before, this can be considered an artificial river, the reality is that we are facing a transfer canal. This means that its function is not only to carry water from A to B, but to act as an artery that connects the vital organs of Caerá’s water system.
In this way, the water that travels through the belt does not remain stagnant, but is used to recharge other hydrographic basins, since the system is designed to pour flows into the large reservoirs in the region, such as the Castanhão (the largest in the state) and the Orós.
Its impact. In this case, this infrastructure is directly expected to supply 561,000 inhabitants in 24 different municipalities. But the interesting thing is that, indirectly, by integrating with other water systems, supply can be ensured for more than five million people.
What is clear in this case is that the authorities want to maintain human consumption as a priority to avoid chronic shortages in cities in the face of drought. From here it will give rise to industry and irrigated agriculture, which are economic drivers of regions that, as has been seen, are severely affected by the little rainfall they receive.
A lifesaver. In the final stretch of 2025, this work has increased its speed and no wonder. With the forecast of the new drought cycles that are arriving in the regioninfrastructure has become very necessary to ensure the supply of the population. The good news is that the tests that have been carried out already confirm that the structure is functional.
In this way, while the world debates water management in the 21st century, Brazil is about to turn the key to one of the largest open-air “pipes” on the continent. In June 2026, if the official schedule is met, the water from São Francisco will finally have a direct and safe path to the heart of Ceará.
Images | SRH
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