Mapeamento de vulnerabilidades e oportunidades para ampliação da segurança hídrica nas bacias hidrográficas de Minas Gerais

Abstract

The water crisis scenario faced by several Brazilian regions in recent years, including Minas Gerais, imposes the urgency of water security actions, a movement that must include, among other aspects, the universalization of water and sanitation services and water management by the multiple actors involved, including the implementation of instruments recommended by the National Water Resources Policy - instituted by Law nº. 9.433/97. Concrete improvements in sanitation directly favor water management, especially sanitary sewage and water supply. In terms of sewage collection and treatment services, the proportion of the watershed exposed to pollution by domestic sewage is reduced, in relation to water supply, loss management favors the availability of water in springs. The importance of the dialogue between these sectors became more evident after the update of the regulatory framework for basic sanitation, Federal Law nº 14.026/2020, when the National Water and Sanitation Agency (ANA) expanded its scope. Given that and considering the Minas Gerais area of influence, which with its 853 municipalities welcomes different contexts of urban and rural territories governance, this study proposes to identify critical areas in terms of water resources management and sanitation, considering the reality of the 36 Hydrographic Circumscriptions (HCs) of Minas Gerais, to discuss vulnerabilities and opportunities to increase water security in the State. For 2022 five indicators were analyzed in the context of Hydrographic Circumscriptions: (i) Water Resources Management Instruments Implementation Index (WRMI); (ii) Sanitary Sewage Collection Index (SCI); (iii) Sanitary Sewage Treatment Index (STI); (iv) Water Quality Index (WQI); and (v) Water Loss per Connection Index (LCI). Data for this research were collected at the Minas Gerais Water Management Institute and at the National Sanitation Information System. The fundamental prerogative is understand the hydrographic basins realities, in order to verify priority areas and encourage public policies by, for example, members of the State Water Resources Management System and actors in the sanitation sector. The product of this study are Vulnerabilities and Opportunities Maps to support decision-making to increase water security in Minas Gerais, mainly to enlarge the water supply. According to the methodology adopted, for WRMI 15 HCs were allocated in the alert scenario; in moderate scenario 05; and in the favorable scenario 16. In the case of SCI and STI, 17 HCs were allocated in the alert scenario; 09 in the moderate scenario; and 10 in the favorable scenario. For WQI it was noticed that the main result in the collection points is the average index, being also observed places with bad and good quality, however it was not observed collection points with very bad result. For LCI, 07 HCs were allocated in the alert scenario; 12 in the moderate scenario; and 17 in the favorable scenario.