Grandes aglomerações urbanas estão geralmente ligadas a seus corpos hídricos de abastecimento de água. Com a Região Metropolitana de São Paulo não foi diferente. Os rios Tietê e Pinheiros passaram por transformações no decorrer dos anos, interferindo no índice de qualidade de águas da Bacia do Alto Tietê. Há, ao mesmo tempo, um elevado consumo de água e inúmeras fontes poluidoras na forma de esgotos domésticos e efluentes industriais. A análise feita do Rio Pinheiros focou duas variáveis: as transformações gradativas e impactantes ocorridas no sistema e as políticas públicas, buscando identificar a relação de decorrência entre elas. As transformações foram analisadas pelos indicadores alterações ocorridas na paisagem e território do sistema, como a retificação e canalização do rio e seu uso e ocupação do solo. A partir de então, este contexto foi confrontado com as políticas públicas ambientais, focando no Projeto Tietê como principal indicador da variável política pública além da UGRH e da qualidade das águas para análise das mudanças ocorridas no sistema. Assim, esta pesquisa pode contribuir com a discussão da melhoria do uso dos recursos naturais metropolitanos. A pesquisa orienta-se pela perspectiva sistêmica apoiada nos conceitos de impactos e de derivações antropogenéticas dos sistemas, o que permite analisar as alterações mais velozes e mais gradativas (respectivamente) advindas da conexão entre a dinâmica dos elementos naturais (sistemas) e a dinâmica dos agentes sociais (derivações antropogenéticas). Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados são a análise sistêmica, no momento do diagnóstico, e a análise integrada, no momento do prognóstico. As alterações ocorridas, e o uso e ocupação das margens contribuíram para o índice atual de qualidade de águas do sistema. Estas transformações ocorreram de forma gradativa e impactante e apenas décadas depois do começo destas intervenções, políticas públicas tentam melhorar a qualidade hídrica metropolitana, com o desenvolvimento de projetos de despoluição, que já apresentam melhoria nas qualidades de água, mas ainda não foram capazes de fazer com que o rio mudasse de classe de acordo com a classificação CONAMA 357. / Large urban agglomerations are generally linked to their bodies of water. In the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo it was no different. The Tietê and Pinheiros rivers have undergone transformations over the years, affecting the water quality index of the Upper Tietê Basin. There is at the same time, a high consumption of water and many sources of pollution in the form of domestic sewage and industrial wastewater. The analysis focused on the Rio Pinheiros two variables: the gradual and transformations occurring in the system and impacting public policy, seeking to identify the relationship between them due. The changes were identified by the indicators of changes in the landscape and territory system and their uses. Since then, this context was confronted with environmental policies, focusing on the Tiete project as the main indicator variable beyond the UGRH and the quality water treatment for the analysis of public policy changes in the system. Thus, this research can contribute to analyze the interventions in the river with a discussion of improving the use of natural resources. The research is guided by the systems perspective and is based on the concepts of impact and derivations anthropogenetic systems, which allows to analyze the fast and more gradual (respectively) changes arising from the connection between the dynamics of natural elements (systems) and the dynamics of social agents ( anthropogenetic derivations). The method used was based on the analysis of evolutionary transformations of the water course. The methodological procedures used are systemic analysis during the diagnosis, and integrated analysis at the time of prognosis. The changes and the use and occupancy of the banks contributed to the current rate of water quality system. These changes occurred gradually and impactful and only decades after the beginning of these interventions, policymakers are trying to improve the water quality in the metropolitan areas, with the development of remediation projects, having already improved water quality, but have not been able to change the river conditions according to the class classification CONAMA 357.

Grandes aglomerações urbanas estão geralmente ligadas a seus corpos hídricos de abastecimento de água. Com a Região Metropolitana de São Paulo não foi diferente. Os rios Tietê e Pinheiros passaram por transformações no decorrer dos anos, interferindo no índice de qualidade de águas da Bacia do Alto Tietê. Há, ao mesmo tempo, um elevado consumo de água e inúmeras fontes poluidoras na forma de esgotos domésticos e efluentes industriais. A análise feita do Rio Pinheiros focou duas variáveis: as transformações gradativas e impactantes ocorridas no sistema e as políticas públicas, buscando identificar a relação de decorrência entre elas. As transformações foram analisadas pelos indicadores alterações ocorridas na paisagem e território do sistema, como a retificação e canalização do rio e seu uso e ocupação do solo. A partir de então, este contexto foi confrontado com as políticas públicas ambientais, focando no Projeto Tietê como principal indicador da variável política pública além da UGRH e da qualidade das águas para análise das mudanças ocorridas no sistema. Assim, esta pesquisa pode contribuir com a discussão da melhoria do uso dos recursos naturais metropolitanos. A pesquisa orienta-se pela perspectiva sistêmica apoiada nos conceitos de impactos e de derivações antropogenéticas dos sistemas, o que permite analisar as alterações mais velozes e mais gradativas (respectivamente) advindas da conexão entre a dinâmica dos elementos naturais (sistemas) e a dinâmica dos agentes sociais (derivações antropogenéticas). Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados são a análise sistêmica, no momento do diagnóstico, e a análise integrada, no momento do prognóstico. As alterações ocorridas, e o uso e ocupação das margens contribuíram para o índice atual de qualidade de águas do sistema. Estas transformações ocorreram de forma gradativa e impactante e apenas décadas depois do começo destas intervenções, políticas públicas tentam melhorar a qualidade hídrica metropolitana, com o desenvolvimento de projetos de despoluição, que já apresentam melhoria nas qualidades de água, mas ainda não foram capazes de fazer com que o rio mudasse de classe de acordo com a classificação CONAMA 357. / Large urban agglomerations are generally linked to their bodies of water. In the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo it was no different. The Tietê and Pinheiros rivers have undergone transformations over the years, affecting the water quality index of the Upper Tietê Basin. There is at the same time, a high consumption of water and many sources of pollution in the form of domestic sewage and industrial wastewater. The analysis focused on the Rio Pinheiros two variables: the gradual and transformations occurring in the system and impacting public policy, seeking to identify the relationship between them due. The changes were identified by the indicators of changes in the landscape and territory system and their uses. Since then, this context was confronted with environmental policies, focusing on the Tiete project as the main indicator variable beyond the UGRH and the quality water treatment for the analysis of public policy changes in the system. Thus, this research can contribute to analyze the interventions in the river with a discussion of improving the use of natural resources. The research is guided by the systems perspective and is based on the concepts of impact and derivations anthropogenetic systems, which allows to analyze the fast and more gradual (respectively) changes arising from the connection between the dynamics of natural elements (systems) and the dynamics of social agents ( anthropogenetic derivations). The method used was based on the analysis of evolutionary transformations of the water course. The methodological procedures used are systemic analysis during the diagnosis, and integrated analysis at the time of prognosis. The changes and the use and occupancy of the banks contributed to the current rate of water quality system. These changes occurred gradually and impactful and only decades after the beginning of these interventions, policymakers are trying to improve the water quality in the metropolitan areas, with the development of remediation projects, having already improved water quality, but have not been able to change the river conditions according to the class classification CONAMA 357.

The settlement history of the Vredefort Dome can be described as a process of cultural development. The Vaal River hydrosphere, which was for many years a prestigious settlement site, initially attracted large scale game and later livestock farmers. The drifts were a central part of a network of early strategic communication routes and outspans. From 1838, pioneer settlement, farm occupation and agricultural development followed, and the area eventually entered an agriculture-mining era. Gold-mining stimulated the regional economy and also played a significant role in the development of towns in the area. The Vaal River did not play a significant role from a mining perspective, but featured more prominently in the development of villages and, in a sense, served as a political boundary. The location of the water source often determined where people settled permanently. It also decided the position of the house and yard. From the outset, riparian dwellers attempted to manipulate the flow of the river by creating dams and utilising water for irrigation and domestic purposes. Drought conditions also left historical traces; water management projects upstream transformed the Vaal River into a steadily flowing stream, which led to the economic and cultural segregation of north and south. Man's fear associated with drought (too little water), floods (too much water), meteorology (the necessity of water), and the role of the supernatural (divining water) and superstition (the water snake stories) were expressed in the interaction between people and this water environment. A wide variety of people with distinct cultures lived alongside each other in the area. Western and African cultural goods, as well as customs and beliefs, were mutually adopted by these different cultural groups as a result of this contact. The way land has been used in the Dome area has evolved over the years. The culling of game made way for the permanent establishment of the livestocktravelling farmer. Hereafter prolonged drought conditions destroyed pastures and, consequently, large areas of land were ploughed for agricultural use. Agriculture, which is more labour intensive and needs more water for irrigation, was replaced by game farming, which is less labour intensive and requires less water This world heritage site has drawn global interest and ecotourism has attracted visitors to the Vaal River area. The riparian dwellers, however, remain victims of up-stream industrial and sewage pollution; in future, they are likely to fall prey to acid mine water pollution, with disastrous consequences. / PhD (History), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013

The settlement history of the Vredefort Dome can be described as a process of cultural development. The Vaal River hydrosphere, which was for many years a prestigious settlement site, initially attracted large scale game and later livestock farmers. The drifts were a central part of a network of early strategic communication routes and outspans. From 1838, pioneer settlement, farm occupation and agricultural development followed, and the area eventually entered an agriculture-mining era. Gold-mining stimulated the regional economy and also played a significant role in the development of towns in the area. The Vaal River did not play a significant role from a mining perspective, but featured more prominently in the development of villages and, in a sense, served as a political boundary. The location of the water source often determined where people settled permanently. It also decided the position of the house and yard. From the outset, riparian dwellers attempted to manipulate the flow of the river by creating dams and utilising water for irrigation and domestic purposes. Drought conditions also left historical traces; water management projects upstream transformed the Vaal River into a steadily flowing stream, which led to the economic and cultural segregation of north and south. Man's fear associated with drought (too little water), floods (too much water), meteorology (the necessity of water), and the role of the supernatural (divining water) and superstition (the water snake stories) were expressed in the interaction between people and this water environment. A wide variety of people with distinct cultures lived alongside each other in the area. Western and African cultural goods, as well as customs and beliefs, were mutually adopted by these different cultural groups as a result of this contact. The way land has been used in the Dome area has evolved over the years. The culling of game made way for the permanent establishment of the livestocktravelling farmer. Hereafter prolonged drought conditions destroyed pastures and, consequently, large areas of land were ploughed for agricultural use. Agriculture, which is more labour intensive and needs more water for irrigation, was replaced by game farming, which is less labour intensive and requires less water This world heritage site has drawn global interest and ecotourism has attracted visitors to the Vaal River area. The riparian dwellers, however, remain victims of up-stream industrial and sewage pollution; in future, they are likely to fall prey to acid mine water pollution, with disastrous consequences. / PhD (History), North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2013