International Journal of Sustainable Building Technology and Urban Development ISSN:2093-761X(Print) 2093-7628(Online)

Historically the Brazilian cities developed following waterways, however such rivers suffered a process of intense urbanization along the margins and without an truly effective planning, often serving as a place for waste disposal and foreign to the city life. From this relationship between man and nature which will define the transformations in the urban environment, where the city outline may generate harmonic or conflicting situations with the physical site, especially with the water in the territory. This article aims to analyse the ways of occupation in the bottom of Itapemirim river's valley in the urban area of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and characterizes it for its affinities with the city and population. Therefore, will be described in general the area of Itapemirim river basin, also identifying its potentials and obstacles. The main change felt is the continuous loss of integration between the water resources and the urban area, emphasized by the environmental degradation in which it was subject and the privatization of the river margins, hindering the sighting and use as an admirable element.