Situação do abastecimento de água em comunidades rurais localizadas no entorno do Eixo Norte do Projeto de Integração do Rio São Francisco.

Abstract

Access to potable water is an essential condition for promoting quality of life, public health, and water security, especially in the semi-arid regions of Northeastern Brazil, where water scarcity has historically imposed restrictions on the supply available to rural populations. In this context, the São Francisco River Integration Project (PISF) stands out as one of the main structural public policies aimed at expanding water availability and ensuring access to water for human consumption. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of the implementation, operation, and management of water supply systems intended for rural communities located in the Directly Affected Area (DAA) of the Northern Axis of the PISF, seeking to assess the extent to which the project has contributed to ensuring water security for this population. The research adopted an applied approach with a diagnostic-propositional character, based on document review, analysis of technical reports, and evaluation of indicators related to the implementation, operation, and sustainability of water supply systems in the states of Pernambuco, Ceará, and Paraíba, in light of the guidelines of the National Basic Sanitation Policy and Sustainable Development Goal 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation. Technical and institutional data from 169 beneficiary communities were analyzed, with an estimated population of approximately 59,000 inhabitants, of which 103 have implemented water supply systems. The analysis considered operational characteristics of the systems, water sources used, management models adopted, and the main obstacles to service continuity and sustainability. The results revealed significant asymmetries among the analyzed states. Ceará showed the best performance in terms of system implementation and operation, associated with the predominance of shared management models and institutional support from the Integrated Rural Sanitation System (SISAR). Paraíba presented a high implementation rate, although structural limitations and restrictions related to water availability persist. Pernambuco, in turn, exhibited the highest levels of fragility, with a low implementation rate, a higher incidence of inoperative systems, and a predominance of communities classified as highly vulnerable. The application of the vulnerability matrix made it possible to identify that factors such as management models, water quality and availability, infrastructure conditions, and financial sustainability are decisive for system performance and service continuity. It is concluded that the PISF constitutes an important instrument for water security, with advances in the implementation of rural water supply infrastructure, whose effectiveness depends on the operational consolidation of systems, the strengthening of management models, and coordinated action among federal, state, and community actors. The results indicate that the consolidation of water security requires continuous technical and institutional support, monitoring, and strategies to overcome identified vulnerabilities, ensuring that rural communities have continuous, safe, and sustainable access to water.