Aproveitamento da água de sistemas de ar condicionado: estudo de caso em uma universidade do semiárido cearense

Abstract

It is common knowledge that water is a natural resource essential to the existence of life on Earth. Due to the irregular distribution of water resources, as well as the accelerated growth of consumption, the use of alternative sources of water for less noble uses in buildings becomes an important practice in the search for water sustainability. In this context, the present work had as a general objective to study the feasibility of using water from air conditioners installed in a university in the Northeastern Brazil. For this, a case study was carried out at the campus of the Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC) in Crateús, following the following methodological steps: estimation of the water flow generated by air conditioners; sizing of the collection and storage system; analysis of the impact of using water from air conditioners on the institution's consumption rate, as well as its physical-chemical quality, technical and economic feasibility of the collection and storage system and, also, the uses for which this type of water would be appropriate. The main standards observed for this work were: NBR 16783 (2019) - Use of alternative sources of non-potable water in buildings and NBR 16782 (2019) - Water conservation in buildings - Requirements, procedures and guidelines. From the results obtained, it was found that the water quality, within the parameters analyzed, was considered adequate

for irrigation and cleaning uses. It was concluded that 5 systems of the SPANP-C type (Non- drinking Water Building System - Clear) would be necessary, due to the provisions of the air

conditioners, and that they would have the capacity to capture 8,189 L of water monthly. The costs of implementing the systems, including labor and materials used, were estimated at R$ 5,018.60, with a payback period of approximately 4.3 years. Therefore, it is evident that the use of water from air conditioners is a viable and safe alternative for non-potable purposes, generating benefits not only financial but, above all, socio-environmental.