This research aimed at evaluating groundwater vulnerability to agrochemical contamination. To that end, we developed an index called Hydric Vulnerability and Agrochemical Contamination Index (HVACI), which integrates a geographic information system and fuzzy logic to measure catchment vulnerability to agrochemical contamination. Our case study investigates two sub-basins, the Baixo Jaguaribe and the Médio Jaguaribe, in the state of Ceará, Brazil. We built a logical relationship matrix involving economic and environmental information as a tool to enhance public managers' decision-making capabilities. Evaluation was based on four categories of vulnerability — high, medium-high, medium-low, and low —, and we found that the joint area of the Baixo Jaguaribe and Médio Jaguaribe sub-basins presented the following levels of risk contamination: 80.3% of the area had low vulnerability, 3.5% had medium-low vulnerability, 3.0% had medium-high vulnerability, and 13.2% had high vulnerability. Geographically, the municipalities with high vulnerability to contamination by pesticides were Aracati, Icapuí, Limoeiro do Norte, Tabuleiro do Norte, and Quixeré. Therefore, HVACI is an important tool for directing environmental management efforts toward areas identified as highly vulnerable to agrochemical contamination.

Associating the dynamic spatial modeling based on the theory of cellular automata with remote sensing and geoprocessing technologies, this article analyzes what would be the per capita consumption behavior of Fortaleza-CE, located in the Northeast of Brazil, in 2017, had there not been a period of water scarcity between 2013 and 2017, and estimates the future urban water demand for the years 2021 and 2025. The weight of evidence method was applied to produce a transition probability map, that shows which areas will be more subject to consumption class change. For that, micro-measured water consumption data from 2009 and 2013 were used. The model was validated by the evaluation of diffuse similarity indices. A high level of similarity was found between the simulated and observed data (0.99). Future scenarios indicated an increase in water demand of 6.45% and 10.16% for 2021 and 2025, respectively, compared to 2017. The simulated annual growth rate was 1.27%. The expected results of urban water consumption for the years 2021 and 2025 are essential for local water resources management professionals and scientists, because, based on our results, these professionals will be able to outline future water resource management strategies.

RESUMO O estudo propôs a elaboração de um índice de vulnerabilidade à propagação da COVID-19 utilizando análise multivariada associada à análise geoespacial. O método empregado considerou a vulnerabilidade como uma combinação de três fatores: exposição, susceptibilidade e capacidade de resposta. A metodologia foi composta de seis etapas: seleção e agrupamento de variáveis; definição dos indicadores; normalização; atribuição de pesos via análise dos componentes principais; estimativa e normalização do índice; e classificação por meio das técnicas Jenks, Kmeans, quantis e clusterização hierárquica (Hclust). Foi realizada uma caracterização da exposição da cidade de Fortaleza, Brasil, à COVID-19 por meio da densidade populacional, da quantidade de habitações subnormais e precárias, da porcentagem de idosos por residência e da proximidade a terminais de ônibus. O estudo procurou sobrepor fatores socioeconômicos e índices de abastecimento público e de esgotamento sanitário, para a classificação de setores censitários em cinco níveis de vulnerabilidade. Estes apresentaram, em sua maioria, classe de alta (Jenks e quantis) e moderada (K-means e Hclust) vulnerabilidade. As regiões de maior vulnerabilidade estão localizadas no sul e no oeste da cidade, onde há maior concentração de aglomerados subnormais. Os resultados podem auxiliar no desenvolvimento de estratégias de enfrentamento direcionadas para os grupos mais expostos aos riscos associados à COVID-19, assim como na preparação para futuras crises de saúde pública. A metodologia pode ser replicada para outras cidades e serve como ferramenta para os gestores públicos.

Economic instruments, such as water charges, have been used to promote water conservation and raise funds for basin management. However, there is a need to improve the water collection model in Brazil. The aims of this study were to analyze the evolution of raw water charges in the State of Ceará and verify the effect of drought on the costs and water collection from 2011 to 2019 to answer two questions: does the water collection fulfill its function of financing the water resources system? Is the pricing model flexible to absorb the effects of climate variability? We conducted a content analysis to determine the presence of certain words in selected documents, and then analyzed the costs of system operation. The results show that the payment capacity is lower than the tariff applied to water. The Status Index is negatively correlated with the Administration (ADM) and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs. The generated revenue is mainly used to cover the management costs (ADM and O&M); however, it is insufficient to finance the implementation of measures, programs, and projects to improve the water management in respective basins. Thus, a floating tariff should be established in which the water scarcity and effects of climate variability are incorporated.

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