Avaliação da sustentabilidade hídrica dos reservatórios Engenheiro Ávidos e São Gonçalo - PB.

Abstract

Water scarcity-related problems could be minimized if there was a better use of existing water reservoirs together with an assessment of their performances by means of well-defined sustainability indicators. This study aims at analyzing the sustainability of the multipurpose system of reservoirs composed by Engenheiro Ávidos Dam and São Gonçalo Dam, and identifying problems related to the inappropriate use of their waters. This system is located in a semiarid land of Paraiba State, Brazil, a region where water scarcity undermines and limits the economic and social development, besides being a source of conflicts between the various water users. The main objectives of the reservoirs are meeting the water demands of two important cities of Paraíba State (Sousa and Cajazeiras), and the Irrigated Perimeter of São Gonçalo. The methodology consisted of analyzing two operating scenarios by using the ACQUANET decision support system. The performance of each scenario was based on the sustainability indicators proposed by Hashimoto et al (1982). As a result, it was found that the operational status of the reservoirs is critical, with the allocation of various demands compromised. In a second scenario, considering the future water transfer from São Francisco river, it was observed that the demands of urban and diffuse supplies were fully attended. The allocations for irrigation requirements, on the other hand, would still be subject to certain levels of vulnerability.