Abstract:The Jucazinho reservoir was built in the State of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil, to water supply in a great part of the population that live in the semi-arid of Pernambuco. This reservoir controls the high part of Capibaribe river basin, area affected several actions that can compromise the reservoir water quality such as disposal of domestic sewage, industrial wastewater and agriculture with use of fertilizers. This study aimed to identify the factors that lead to water quality of the Jucazinho reservoir using a database containing information of nine years of reservoir water quality monitoring in line with a multivariate statistical technique known as Principal Component Analysis (PCA). To use this technique, it was selected two components which determine the quality of the reservoir water. The first principal component, ranging from an annual basis, explained the relationship between the development of cyanobacteria, the concentration of dissolved solids and electrical conductivity, comparing it with the variation in the dam volume, total phosphorus levels and turbidity. The second principal component, ranging from a mensal basis, explained the photosynthetic activity performed by cyanobacteria confronting with the variation in the dam volume. It observed the relationship between water quality parameters with rainfall, featuring an annual and seasonal pattern that can be used as reference to behaviour studies of this reservoir.

The objective of this study is to define a consumption indicator (CI) for water that can be used as a reference for developing water conservation plans at public schools. The methodology followed consists of a historical water consumption data survey of all schools in Recife, Brazil, a registration survey of school buildings, the calculation of consumption indicators for the period 2012–2015, and finally, the calculation of reference indicators. The results obtained indicated a reference range for the CI of 13.0 ± 2.0 L/student/day for water considering the set of all school typologies, with a 95% confidence level. The analysis of the schools in groups, classified into four typologies, led to the following reference ranges: 11.5 ± 2.0 L/student/day for regular schools, 13.5 ± 3.5 L/student/day for extended period schools, 22.0 ± 6.0 L/student/day for full period schools, and 18.5 ± 6.5 L/student/day for technical schools. Through the use of a consumption indicator, schools with a limited supply of potable or above average water can be identified and specific actions can be developed to achieve a sustainable use of water in the school environment. This article has been made Open Access thanks to the generous support of a global network of libraries as part of the Knowledge Unlatched Select initiative.

Este artigo define critérios objetivando avaliar graus de implementação da Política Nacional de Recursos Hídricos (PNRH) em duas escalas de planejamento: uma bacia de rio de domínio da União (nível macro) e uma sub-bacia de rio de domínio estadual (nível micro). Sete critérios são propostos: cinco instrumentos de gestão (Lei no 9433/97) – outorga; cobrança; sistemas de informações, planos de recursos hídricos e enquadramento e duas condições de participação pública e gestão de conflitos – existência e atuação dos comitês de bacia e incidência de conflitos pelo uso da água. Cinco categorias de graus de implementação foram definidas: Muito Alto, Alto, Médio, Baixo e Muito Baixo. A metodologia foi aplicada à Bacia Hidrográfica do rio São Francisco e à sua sub-bacia do rio Salitre (BA). A análise mostra diferentes graus de implementação da PNRH em função da escala de planejamento (União ou Estado) e do critério analisado, apontando a necessidade de ações de gestão para apoiar a tomada de decisão em distintas escalas de planejamento.

The growing global water supply crisis highlights the need to implement tools that guide policy makers in controlling effluent discharges into surface water bodies, considering that the consequent poor water quality makes it unavailable for certain uses. This study proposes a methodology to aid water managers regarding licensing effluent discharge into water bodies, using a mathematical water quality model and proposing criteria to be adopted in analyzing the licensing process. The study area used to apply the water quality model and the simulation scenarios was a stretch of about 22km along the Capibaribe river between the cities of São Lourenço da Mata and Recife, Pernambuco-Brazil. The mathematical model was the QUAL-UFMG. The analyzed parameters were BOD and DO. The results showed that less than 10% of the stretch under study presents these parameters within the limits established by law for its water quality class considering preferred uses. Furthermore, it was possible to identify the critical points where it may be necessary for installed industrial plants to adapt, and points where the river still retains some depuration ability . The simulated scenarios showed that the implementation of progressive goal-setting may classify the effluent according to standards established for the river water quality class.

RESUMOAs cidades passam por cada vez maiores dificuldades para garantir o abastecimento público de água potável. Uma alternativa para reduzir a demanda de água tratada é a utilização do sistema de aproveitamento de água pluvial. Este trabalho analisa a viabilidade econômica da implantação de um sistema de captação, armazenamento e distribuição de água de chuva em uma escola pública estadual na cidade de Recife-PE. Para isso, foram analisados os dados pluviométricos locais, a área de contribuição e a demanda de água não potável na edificação, a fim de dimensionar um reservatório e as instalações de drenagem pluvial. O custo da implantação do sistema foi estimado em R$ 38.715,48, e comparado à economia anual de R$ 6.381,24, trazida pela substituição de 59,6% da água potável pela pluvial, resulta num período de retorno do investimento estimado em 6 anos e 25 dias. As vantagens resultantes desse sistema não são apenas financeiras, mas ainda ambientais e culturais. A redução do volume de precipitação, graças à parte armazenada, pode atenuar o impacto de precipitações capazes de gerar alagamentos no prédio. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:Aproveitamento de água pluvial. Dimensionamento de reservatórios. Escolas públicas. ABSTRACTCities go through growing difficulties to guarantee the public potable water supply. Rainwater harvesting systems are alternatives to decrease the drinking water demand. This paper evaluates the economic feasibility of installing a rainwater harvesting system in a state public school in Recife. Data on local precipitation indexes, rainfall capturing area and non-potable water demand were obtained to estimate the rainwater tank size as well as its drainage system. The estimated cost for the rainwater harvesting system was R$ 38,715.48, that compared to the annual savings of R$ 6,381.24, brought by the potential potable water savings calculated in 59.6%, results in a payback period estimated in 6 years and 25 days. The benefits from employing this system are not only monetary, but also environmental and cultural. The decrease of precipitated rainwater, thanks to the stored amount, can mitigate the effects of extreme precipitations in the building. KEYWORDS:Rainwater harvesting. Rainwater tank sizing. Public schools. RESUMENLas ciudades pasan cada vez mayores dificultades para garantizar el abastecimiento público de agua potable. Una alternativa para reducir la demanda de agua tratada es la utilización del sistema de aprovechamiento de agua pluvial. Este trabajo analiza la viabilidad económica de la implantación de un sistema de captación, almacenamiento y distribución de agua de lluvia en una escuela pública estatal en la ciudad de Recife-PE. Para ello, se analizaron los datos pluviométricos locales, el área de contribución y la demanda de agua no potable en la edificación, a fin de dimensionar un depósito y las instalaciones de drenaje pluvial. El costo de la implantación del sistema fue estimado en R$ 38.715,48, y comparado a la economía anual de R$ 6.381,24, traída por la sustitución del 59,6% del agua potabl...