Diagnóstico de uso de água no Hospital Universitário de Londrina: estudo de caso

Abstract

Urban centers have suffered from water scarcity and pollution due to inadequate management of water resources and increasing population, which consequently causes an increase in the demand for drinking water. Therefore, the conservation of this resource has become one of the greatest challenges faced by humanity in recent times. The use of water management programs to combat the excessive use of drinking water has been adopted in several buildings with very positive results throughout the country. The health services sector is in constant evolution in relation to the implementation of sustainable techniques. Recently, hospital centers have devoted more attention to the environmental cause. This work presents a diagnosis of water use and consumption and a preliminary study aimed at the implementation of a Water Conservation Program (PCA) in a Public Hospital located in the city of Londrina – PR. Its importance is focused on reducing water consumption, as well as systematizing and organizing appropriate and economically viable technical actions, safeguarding the health of its users and the perfect performance of the systems involved. The methodological procedure used in this study aimed to present the water consumption profile for this building typology, to compare it with the indexes in the literature, and after evaluating the results, to propose technical measures aimed at minimizing water consumption. In addition to minimizing consumption, the implementation of the PCA also aims to use alternative sources of water for nonpotable uses. The alternatives explored in this study were: Rainwater harvesting, which, through a system composed of coverage area, pipes and reservoirs, collects and reserves rainwater for in loco use; water reuse of the laundry, which, through laboratory analysis, had its effluent characterized; and a feasibility study of drilling a well for direct abstraction of groundwater at the site. It was possible to conclude that the Hospital has many possibilities for improvement, since it only uses water from the Sanitation Company of Paraná. Among the alternative sources for obtaining water, it was verified that well drilling is shown as the most effective way to promote economy for the building. In addition, it was also possible to conclude that the exchange of equipment and replacement for other more economical ones would eliminate many losses of water in the hospital.