Restoring Water Supply During the 2024 Floods in Southern Brazil
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGE
One of the 4 Key Sustainability Challenges
Story Highlights
UTILIZED SOFTWARE
Bentley Software
LOCATION
ORGANIZATION/COMPANY
PROJECT SUMMARY
The 2024 historic floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, created an unparalleled humanitarian crisis, overwhelming the region’s infrastructure by paralyzing 70 water treatment plants and submerging 265,000 service connections. Facing asset damage and logistical chaos across 168 municipalities, Corsan/Aegea needed immediate, precise decisions to restore basic services for 2.4 million people. The digital breakthrough was leveraging their existing Bentley OpenFlows Water hydraulic models as a tactical-strategic emergency planning tool for the first time. The team rapidly transitioned to action, using the models to simulate complex, time-sensitive scenarios: from strategically locating mobile water treatment units to optimizing the delicate recharge of damaged distribution networks. OpenFlows provided the crucial intelligence needed to calculate replenishment times and test temporary supply loops under extreme uncertainty. This digital response enabled the task force to establish a predictable, organized, and intermittent supply to the entire affected population, ensuring water quality and mitigating the severe public health risks of a complete water shortage. This agile use of advanced digital modeling demonstrates its critical role in climate disaster response and infrastructure resilience.
Relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG Goal 1
No Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
SDG Goal 2
Zero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
SDG Goal 3
Good Health and Well-Being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
SDG Goal 4
Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
SDG Goal 5
Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
SDG Goal 6
Clean Water and Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
SDG Goal 7
Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
SDG Goal 8
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full employment, & decent work for all.
SDG Goal 9
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization & foster innovation.
SDG Goal 10
Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries.
SDG Goal 11
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
SDG Goal 12
Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
SDG Goal 13
Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
SDG Goal 14
Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
SDG Goal 15
Life on Land
Sustainably manage ecosystems, combat desertification, reverse land degradation, & halt biodiversity loss.
SDG Goal 16
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Foster peaceful & inclusive societies, ensure justice access, & build effective, accountable institutions at all levels.
SDG Goal 17
Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation & revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.