Educação ambiental e emprego de equipamentos economizadores na redução do consumo de água em residências de famílias de baixa renda em uma escola de ensino fundamental

Abstract

The objective of this work is to evaluate the effects of both environmental educational activities and the use of water-saving sanitary equipments in the reduction of water consumption within residences of families with low SES (socio-economic status) and in one school in the neighborhood of Capitão Eduardo localized in the periphery of Belo Horizonte. Additionally, this work intended to generate results to support the viability of the realization of public services meant to financially support both low SES families and public schools in the acquisition of water-saving equipments. At first, 14 automatic faucets, 9 toilet valves with adjustable water outlet, 13 water outlet lever for faucets and 1 embedded toilet tank were installed in 37 residences of families with monthly income lower than three minimal salaries. The water consumption of each residence was tracked back 18 months before as well as 7 months after the installation of the water-saving equipments. At a second moment, anenvironmental educational activity was realized with children of 3ª e 5ª series of the municipal school Governador Ozanan Coelho. This activity consisted of two cycles of talks. Afterwards, 11 automatic faucets and 11 toilet valves with adjustable water outlet were installed in the WC utilized by the students and the staff (including the teachers) of the school. The water consumption of the school was tracked back 2 month before and 2 months after the beginning of the talk cycles, and 4 months after the installation of the water-saving equipments. After data collection, the water consumption of the residences and of the school, before and after the installation of the equipments and the environmental educational activity was compared. It has been shown that the residences saved 220m3 of water from JUL/2004 through JAN/2005 (a mean of 0,9m3 monthly per residence). This corresponded to a reduction of 7,5 % in the water consumption. The school presented saving of 240m3 of water from AUG/2004 through NOV/2004 (a mean of 60m3 per month). This corresponded to a reduction of 16 % in the water consumption. The environmental educational activity has not shown any effect in the economy of water within the school. However, 43 out of 61 residences of children who participated in these activities have shown a mean reduction of 23% from MAY/2004 through JUN/2004.