Agências, técnicas e custos associados ao abastecimento de água em comunidades rurais do semiárido: Januária, Minas Gerais

Abstract

t In the North of Minas Gerais semi-arid region, in the upper-middle São Francisco river Basin, the " gerais " are sandy plateaus of low-sized vegetation and streams, characterized by low precipitation, high temperatures, irregular rainfall regimes and frequent droughts. This article analyzes the dynamics of droughts in two rural communities across the gerais, identifying the agencies that mediate the water supply, the techniques employed for the water supply, and estimating the costs of water provision programs. To this end, interviews were carried out, consumption measurements and field observations in the period 2017/2018, combining dry and rainy seasons. The article shows that, despite 5 consecutive years of severe drought and elongated summers, the water supply structure based on the artesian well/plate tanks combination ensures satisfactory levels of water consumption for this rural population, highlighting the importance of public policies. However, one caveat should be made: with the depletion of groundwater, it is unlikely that the supply system will sustain the same levels of supply in the long term.