Proposta de um modelo de gestão ambiental com ênfase no saneamento básico para implantação na Universidade Federal de Campina Grande - PB.

Abstract

The development of the environmental awareness in several sectors of Society also ends up involving the education sector, including the higher education institutions (IES). In this vein, these institutions acquire an educational and transforming role, by developing models that lead to the formation of the critical ecological thinking, as well as innovative concepts capable of promoting the sustainability throughout communities and regions. An IES campus require an efficient infrastructure, capable of ensuring the ambiental health, the academic community security, and the environmental protection. By considering this issue, this paper proposed a model of environmental management, with emphasis on basic sanitation, for the deployment on the main campus of Universidade Federal de Campina Grande – PB. The model was grounded on the PDCA cycle methodology, presented by ISO 14001, and composed by a set of successive stages that provide a more effective scheduling of sustainable actions. Initially, it was necessary to diagnose the infrastructure of the water supply and sanitary sewage systems, evaluate community’s level of awareness, in addition of identifying potential causes and environmental impacts caused by problems recognized by a mobile application. Subsequently, the management plan, communication plan and suggestions were drafted for implementation in the monitoring, and assessment stages. The proposed actions were classified in immediate execution (first year), shortterm (up to 3 years), mediumterm (3 to 7 years), and longterm (7 to 10 years). It is also important to note that the viability of implementation of the model depends on investments by the government, whose establishing and execution terms are conditional on economic factors. Among the various benefits of implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS), stand out: the reduction in water consumption; the demonstration of compliances with the environment legislation, thus reducing the risks of penalties or environmental liabilities; the execution of responsible practices, leading to an improved external image of the institution, generating more research opportunities. Therefore, it is understood that, after executing the proposed steps, the mentioned enhancements may beobserved in the water supply and sanitary sewage systems of the main campus of UFCG.