Redes de distribuição de água potável : análise da manutenção na microrregião de Catolé do Rocha-PB e avaliação dos impactos ambientais.

Abstract

Considering the importance of maintaining continuous access to water as a basic right to life, this study aimed to analyze maintenance services in water distribution networks in the Catolé do Rocha microregion, in Paraíba, as well as to survey the environmental impacts caused by the irregularities studied, in the period from July/2023 to June/2024. Four analysis criteria were defined to guide the research. The first criterion evaluated the cities in the microregion that presented the highest number of leaks throughout the analyzed period, as well as those that presented the least. The second criterion investigated whether maintenance occurred more frequently in deep or surface pipelines, quantified simultaneously and separated by the municipality. The third criterion sought to understand whether maintenance, both in networks and branches, had any relationship with the paving of roads. The fourth and final criterion sought to understand the distribution of maintenance throughout the months, relating the occurrence of leaks to the rainfall variation typical of the semiarid region. To quantify physical water losses, the water loss index in distribution, from the National Sanitation Information System (SNIS), was considered. In addition, a simplified analysis of the environmental impacts during network maintenance services was carried out. Preliminary results indicated a greater number of leaks in the most populous municipalities of the microregion under study, as was the case of Catolé do Rocha-PB and São Bento-PB. Furthermore, the incidence of leaks was mainly associated with surface piping installations, installations on unpaved roads, and the rainy season in the region. It was also observed that the data on water losses in distribution do not have a direct relationship with the data collected in the CT-Manutenção application. And, based on the simplified environmental impact assessment, it was indicated that preventive measures have a significant influence on mitigating the main impacts identified. Therefore, future studies may examine the feasibility of lowering pipes that are at a depth above 1.30 meters, by CAGEPA specifications, as well as providing mechanical protection for exposed networks on unpaved roads, minimizing the risk of external damage.