Rain, drought, and water crisis in western Santa Catarina.

adverse effects of urbanization

Abstract

This article analyzes rainfall in western Santa Catarina with the objective of identifying drought events that occurred between 1974 and 2022. Special attention is given to the droughts observed from 2019 to 2022, which affected water supply and demand in the two main urban-industrial centers of the region, Chapecó and Xanxerê, as well as in the municipalities of Xaxim and Cordilheira Alta. These droughts were analyzed from a rhythmic climatology perspective. These locations, headquarters of the municipalities under the same name, will be directly benefited by the Rio Chapecozinho Project, which is currently under implementation. This is a large-scale project, that aims to solve the frequent water crises in these four municipalities and to promote water security in this important region of Santa Catarina state, whose economic base is agribusiness.