Cidades resilientes: o efeito da utilização de soluções baseadas na natureza para atenuação de cheias do Ribeirão Yung (JF)

Abstract

The rapid growth of urban areas and the resulting soil impermeabilization have intensified the occurrence of flooding and inundation in Brazilian cities, highlighting the need for more sustainable drainage solutions. In this context, the present study investigates the effects of applying Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in the Ribeirão Yung watershed, located in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Watershed data were obtained using QGIS software, while hydrological modeling was performed using the EPA’s SWMM (Storm Water Management Model). For the simulation, an eight-day analysis period was selected, using precipitation data from the Linhares rainfall station (CEMADEN), corresponding to an intense rainfall event that occurred in February 2026, with a total accumulated precipitation of 296.48 mm and a peak intensity of 23.15 mm within 10 minutes. The selected compensatory techniques included bioswales, rain gardens, and detention basins, implemented according to topographic and land use and land cover criteria identified within the watershed. Results were analyzed through the comparison of eight scenarios: one representing the current watershed condition without NbS implementation; one considering the simultaneous application of the three techniques (bioswales, rain gardens, and detention basins); and six additional scenarios combining the selected devices in different ways. The analysis indicated that detention basins showed the highest efficiency, promoting an approximate 33% reduction in the maximum outflow discharge in all scenarios where they were implemented, whereas rain gardens and bioswales showed limited effects below 0.10% when evaluated individually. Among the evaluated scenarios, the combination of detention basins and rain gardens achieved the best performance, with reductions of 33.02% in maximum discharge and 3.31% in total runoff volume. It is concluded that Nature-Based Solutions, especially detention basins, can significantly contribute to improving the urban macrodrainage system of the Ribeirão Yung watershed, representing a feasible alternative for mitigating impacts associated with intense rainfall events in mixed watersheds.