Diagnóstico microbiológico das águas de cisternas utilizadas na agricultura familiar no município de Sousa- PB.

Abstract

Water scarcity in the Brazilian Northeastern semiarid region makes cisterns a fundamental social technology for rainwater storage and supply to farming families. This study aimed to evaluate the structural conditions, management practices, and microbiological quality of water from cisterns used in family farming in the municipality of Sousa, Paraíba. It is an observational, cross-sectional, and descriptive study, carried out through the application of a semi-structured questionnaire and microbiological analyses of samples collected directly from the cisterns. The results showed a predominance of cisterns built with cement plates (73.3%), with capacities between 10,001 and 16,000 L (56.7%), and usage time mainly between 5 and 10 years (46.7%). Cleaning was performed irregularly by 43.4% of farmers, and the stored water had multiple purposes, including human consumption (40.0%), irrigation (33.3%), and animal consumption (26.7%). Microbiological evaluation revealed high contamination rates: total coliforms in 80% of samples, Escherichia coli in 60%, Enterococcus spp. in 40%, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 23.3%, all above the limits established by Ordinance GM/MS No. 888/2021. It is concluded that although cisterns represent progress in water access in the semiarid, insufficient management and maintenance practices compromise the microbiological quality of the stored resource, posing a risk to public health. The findings reinforce the need for integrated public policies, educational actions, and continuous monitoring strategies to ensure not only water availability but also the safety and potability of water used by farming families.