Vulnerabilidade à deficiência do esgotamento sanitário nas microrregionais de saneamento da Paraíba

Abstract

The lack of access to sanitation services compromises the quality of life of the population, and the precariousness of sewage collection and treatment further aggravates their vulnerability. In this context, the identification of critical areas through performance indexes and indicators is essential to support the implementation of effective strategic actions. The objective of this research is to study the vulnerability of the sewage service in the sanitation microregions of the state of Paraíba, to assist in the direction and prioritization of public policies that reduce the impacts resulting from the deficiency of the service. The study considers three dimensions of vulnerability: risk, susceptibility and adaptive capacity. The methodology was structured in six stages: pre-selection of indicators; application of statistical methods to select representative and uncorrelated indicators; assignment of weights and calculation of the Sewage Deficiency Vulnerability Index (SVII) using Shannon entropy; aggregation of indicators by the VIKOR method and classification of the SVII; use of geotechnologies to visualize the results; and analysis of vulnerability in the microregions. The Espinharas Microregion stood out with 91% of municipalities in a situation of very high vulnerability, due to the lack of sanitation, poverty and lack of investment. The municipality of Diamante was considered the most vulnerable in the state. In contrast, the Borborema Microregion obtained the best results, with five municipalities classified as having very low vulnerability. João Pessoa, in the Litoral Microregion, was the least vulnerable municipality. The main challenges include the precariousness of the sanitation service in the risk dimension, unfavorable socioeconomic conditions in the susceptibility dimension and the lack of planning and equitable distribution of resources in the adaptive capacity. It is concluded that the methodology developed can support the formulation of public policies aimed at reducing vulnerability, contributing to more effective planning and improving the living conditions of the affected populations.