Diagnosis of the water supply system of rural communities in Cariri region of Ceará State

Abstract

Water management in rural communities is a challenge for the universalization of sanitation in Brazil. This study evaluated the conditions of water supply in communities in the municipalities of Barbalha, Crato, Farias Brito and Juazeiro do Norte, in the interior of Ceará, through sustainability indicators. The social actors and public policies present in these municipalities were identified. Then, eight locations were visited to apply the indicators and classify them into a sustainability level. Two communities were considered unsustainable for not having a solution guaranteeing sufficient water for families. The best rates were in the solutions managed in partnership with the Rural Sanitation System (SISAR). This work is important for portraying the supply in the communities and for presenting the use of indices as a management tool. The information obtained can be useful for policy planning and can be replicated in other locations.