Segurança hídrica na ilha de Cotijuba, Belém-Pará

Abstract

Water security is directly related to the availability and proper management of water resources to ensure access to water in sufficient quantity and quality. Climatic phenomena, such as prolonged droughts and intense floods, have impacted this security, making water an increasingly critical issue. This dissertation investigated the current conditions of water security on Cotijuba Island, in Belém, Pará, using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for multitemporal analysis of land use in the years 1985, 1998, 2010, and 2023, in addition to altimetric parameters. As a final product, it developed a water security panel based on local environmental perception, in which the challenges to promoting the sustainability of water resources on Cotijuba Island are listed, through indicators such as water supply and sewage systems, energy, land use and occupation, among others. The dissertation mainly addresses the following question: “Is it possible that communities living along riverbanks in a region with high rainfall levels face limitations in accessing water in sufficient quantity and quality?” The results from the development of the water security panel in Cotijuba highlight several challenges for the public authorities to address, such as the fact that water for consumption often needs to be purchased or treated, given the deficiencies in the current capture and distribution system. In recent decades, intense urbanization and increased tourism have boosted the local economy, raising both the demand for water and the generation of waste. This lack of sanitation infrastructure compromises both the health of residents and the island’s ecosystems. Sustainable public policies and infrastructure investments are essential to mitigate the impacts on access to water of adequate quality and quantity on Cotijuba Island. Moreover, the development of this water security panel may be applied to other islands in Belém or cities in Pará that require a more comprehensive diagnosis, becoming a tool to support decision-making by public authorities.