Proposta de uso de indicadores de sustentabilidade hídrica como subsídio para a gestão de recursos hídricos

Abstract

Water, in sufficient quantity and quality, is essential for all aspects of life and sustainable development. However, this natural element is finite, therefore, its use must be managed in a sustainable way. Thus, the present study proposes amethodology using water sustainability indicators as a tool for water resources management in watersheds. The construction of the methodological proposal started from bibliographic research, both technical and scientific, resulting in the assessment of water resources in three dimensions: Potentiality, Availability and Demand; Performance of the Water Resources Management System; Efficiency of Water Use, which gather indicators of use and management. Weights or degrees of water sustainability were established for all indicators in order to allow a greater understanding of the value obtained, giving them meaning. In order to verify whether the method is reproducible, flexible, adequate to what it is proposed, and capable of offering a response to society and/or water resources managers, the methodological proposal was applied in a case study in the hydrographic units of Alto Ivaí, Baixo Ivaí,and Alto Iguaçu. As a product of the present study, a Manual containing the application of the methodological was produced, in order to assist in the evaluation and planning to promote the sustainable management of water resources by the members of SINGREH. After the application of the methodology in the hydrographic units, a medium degree of development was obtained for the Dimension of Potentiality, Availability and Demand in the Alto Iguaçu hydrographic unit, being the most critical situation observed, while the Baixo and Alto Ivaí units showed a high degree of sustainability. In the Performance Dimension of the Water Resources Management System, excellent development of management instruments was identified in the Alto Iguaçu hydrographic unit, classified with a high degree of sustainability. The Baixo Ivaí hydrographic unit, on the other hand, presented a medium degree of performance, while the Alto Ivaí unit presented a low degree of development in that dimension. There was a medium degree of sustainability for the Water Use Efficiency Dimension, in the Alto Ivaí and Alto Iguaçu units, while Baixo Ivaí was classified with a high degree of sustainability. As a product of the application of methodological proposal, maps were generated containing the results obtained for every dimension analyzed. It was concluded that the methodological proposal can be used for a diagnosis of the degrees of water sustainability in watersheds, subsidizing analyzes oriented to public authorities, in all levels of management and social engagement, as well as to the technical and scientific communities and the instances of civil representation and society, supporting decision making on water resources management in a more sustainable direction.