Risco de desabastecimento hídrico na região oeste do Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Abstract

The present work is part of a doctoral thesis, which aims to analyse the risk of water shortages in Rio Grande do Norte (RN) using the Water Shortages Risk Index (IRDH) as reference. This research is ushered by the hypothesis that the relationship among some factors (environment, infrastructure, socioeconomic status and state planning) produces territories at risk of water shortages in the State. In this context, in a systemic perspective the index was structured: 19 variables, which correspond to 4 indicators inherent to this hypothesis present factors, were taken into consideration. This work presents the IRDH that belongs to the west water supply region in Rio Grande do Norte. There are 16 municipality in that region, six of them were classified at 'high risk' of water shortages; seven at ‘medium risk’; and three considered at 'low risk' according to the IRDH classification.