The ratings for the Water Quality and Pollution Control Project to the States of Sao Paulo and Parana were as follows: outcome was satisfactory; sustainability was likely; institutional development impact was substantial; Bank performance was satisfactory; and Borrower performance was satisfactory. The ratings for the Espirito Santo Water Coastal Pollution Management Project were as follows: outcome was moderately satisfactory; sustainability was likely; institutional development impact was negligible; Bank performance was satisfactory; and Borrower performance was unsatisfactory. Some of the lessons learned included: (i) the importance of treating the institutional and environmental objectives as long term program areas, rather than projects, and this requires persistence, patience, and follow up by the Bank; (ii) that integrated approaches work well, for the most part, with low income settlements; (iii) that the hybrid approach represents a useful model for Brazil and elsewhere; and (iv) that metropolitan planning in Brazil requires urgent attention. One of the richest lessons from this assessment, finally, concerns the perceptions and judgments of high level professionals who managed the course of project implementation. Institutional actors were given the scope to form and agree on core values.

Annotation This study focuses on water resources management, water supply and sanitation, and environmental management in Brazil.

This book is a product of Brazilian Academy of Sciences Study Group about water issue. The water cycle was addressed based on an integrated point of view, aiming at joining technological and ecological solutions and integrating quantitative and qualitative aspects of this important environmental asset. Issues such as the water resources management and irrigated agriculture, water and health, water and economy, conservation and reuse as management tools, water in the Brazilian semi arid, water in Amazon, urbanization and water resources, education for the sustainability of water resources, groundwater, availability, pollution and eutrophication of water and science, technology and innovation are of the utmost importance for this exact moment in Brazil, and particularly to the State of Sao Paulo. Addressing these issues will undoubtedly contribute towards a sustainable management of water resources trough the coordinated work of different fields of science, progressing a systemic view about water, that would then finally allow management professionals the possibility of an integral action in anticipating problems and thus anticipate solutions.