Diagnóstico hídrico participativo e gestão de água em uma comunidade rural no semiárido cearense

Abstract

Water security refers to the guarantee of sufficient water, in both quantity and quality, to meet human and environmental needs in a sustainable and resilient manner over time. In this context, the research addressed water security in a community located in the semiarid region of Ceará. The main objective was to understand the local water panorama through the analysis of water availability and the different modalities of water management, using participatory diagnostic approaches and examining their interrelations. The study was conducted in Vila Algodões, in the Damião Carneiro District, located in the municipality of Quixeramobim, in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Regarding the methodological strategies adopted, Social Cartography constituted the central axis of the investigation, and as complementary tools, the SWOT Matrix and the analysis of Household Water Insecurity questionnaires were employed. The main results reveal the coexistence of multiple forms of water supply and use, as well as distinct water management arrangements—individual, community-based, and institutional. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the water reality in rural communities and foster the debate on water security and water governance in semiarid regions