The Guarani Aquifer System (GAS) is considered one of the largest groundwater reservoirs in the world, and most of its area is located in Brazilian territory. In the municipality of Ribeirão Preto, SP, the GAS outcrops are in the eastern sector, which uses it for urban supply. On the other hand, the presence of environmental liabilities and soil compaction by urbanization are threats to the conservation of the GAS in the municipality, requiring environmental management measures to ensure the quality and quantity of water from the aquifer. Towards the GAS conservation, the present study aimed at analyzing the potential application of Brazilian protected areas (ETEPs), such as legal reserves (LR), permanent preservation areas (PPA), Conservation Units (CU), and in areas considered as priority by the location study accomplished by Bircol (2012). The results indicate a mosaic of ETEPs that are determined according to the characteristics of each site. Among the 30 areas studied, 5 were classified as Conservation Units of Integral Protection, 8 as Conservation Units of Sustainable Use, 8 as Zones of Maximum Protection (ZMP) and 9 as urban parks designated for public recreation and environmental education. This study shows that the institution of ETEPs may represent an alternative to seek the conservation of the Guarani Aquifer System, aligning protection with economic and social development.