Diagnóstico do comportamento da população frente à escassez hídrica na cidade de Pombal-PB.

Abstract

The semi-arid region of the Brazilian Northeast has physiographic features that provide an unfavorable situation in relation to water availability. In the last years it has been aggravated violently because of the population increase, economic, and mainly by the degradation of the superficial waters coming from the anthropic actions. This water scarcity causes several negative impacts to the environment, since water is the main natural resource indispensable for life and socioeconomic growth, and it is necessary to develop studies and applications to mitigate this scenario that is already critical. This work has a descriptive exploratory character, whose main objective is to diagnose the behavior of the population, and the impacts arising from lack of water, through knowledge of the local problem and to create ways to mitigate it through environmental education and / or public policy. Regarding the approach, qualitative and quantitative methods were applied through the application of questionnaires and interviews to the sample population, as well as a detailed analysis of the secondary data. Based on the results obtained, socioeconomic characteristics influenced the behavior of the population of Pombal, which was generally positive, since most of them have environmental education practices aimed at the efficient use and conservation of water, however they do the same because of the economic factor , And not environmental, in particular those with lower purchasing power. It was identified the lack of water during the week in the domestic supply throughout the city, varying its severity by the location of the neighborhood, as well as the lack of efficient public policies of the management bodies of the locality.