There are many farms producing coffee, and several farms growing bananas, papaya and other fruit crops under irrigation. Irrigated cotton is rapidly coming on as the region's number one irrigated crop. Irrigation water is pumped from wells and from rivers and streams that run year-around. River water pumping is regulated by public authorities. Pumping licenses are still available on some remote rivers in the region, but licenses are no longer being issued for river pumping near population centers and major roads.
Underground water is abundant.
There is virtually no rainwater runoff even in the highest rainfall areas and the region's deep sandy soils act as a massive sponge. The underground water in the several hundred meter deep soil profile is recharged each year with an average regional rainfall of more than 1,300 mm. In this respect, Western Bahia is unique in Brazil and in the world for having essentially inexhaustible underground water resources. In other words, underground water moves from the higher rainfall areas to the lower rainfall areas. Seepage deep into the earth is blocked by an impermeable limestone formation several hundred meters below the surface.