Abastecimento de água e esgotamento sanitário como indicadores de sustentabilidade: estudo de caso em comunidades rurais dos municípios do comitê da bacia hidrográfica do Rio Marapanim/ PA.

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) no. 6, related to Clean Water and Sanitation, aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of drinking water and sanitation for all, considering that the adequate provision of these services is essential for ensuring quality of life and sustainable development. The national and state legal framework of Pará defines the river basin as the management unit and establishes the universalization of water and sewage services as key principles. However, Brazil, particularly rural communities in Pará, frequently faces structural and institutional challenges in the provision of these services and in water resource management. Thus, this study aims to survey the conditions of access to water supply and sanitation services in rural communities of the municipalities that are part of the Marapanim River Basin Committee (CBHRM) and apply the Rural Water Sustainability Index (ISHR) to obtain insights that can guide the efficient management of water resources. The research has a qualitative and quantitative approach, and the methodology was based on the application of the ISHR, using secondary data obtained from the State Secretariat for the Environment of Pará (SEMAS/PA). These data were derived from responses to questionnaires applied to residents of selected communities, complemented by documentary and geospatial analysis. The index considered the following components: Water Resources, Water Use, and Water Access, which include aspects such as the presence of water supply, supply duration, storage methods, type of sanitation facilities, and occurrences of waterborne diseases. The results showed that 11 out of the 12 communities were classified as "Potentially Sustainable" according to the overall ISHR score, while only one was categorized as "Intermediate." The main issues identified from the residents' perspectives, which hinder water sustainability in the studied communities, were: low access to potable water supply, inadequate water storage, limited knowledge and training regarding water resources, insufficient collection and improper disposal of wastewater, and socioeconomic factors such as low income and education levels, which exacerbate the situation. This highlights the need for improvements in infrastructure, the development of public policies, environmental education, and the integration of all stakeholders involved in the management processes, particularly the CBHRM, to achieve water sustainability and improve the quality of life in these communities.