Análise da vulnerabilidade natural das águas subterrâneas do Complexo Portuário e Industrial do Mucuripe, Fortaleza - CE

Abstract

The study of aquifer vulnerability is defined under various aspects and, specifically in this work, is also related to the susceptibility that an aquifer system has to be degradated by antropic actvity, what implies in a bigger or smaller probability of negative alteration of the water quality as a consequence of human activity. The objective of the work is to analyze the potential risk existent, through of the DRASTIC method, in the area comprehended by the Mucuripe Portuary and Industrial Complex, once inside its context are verified possible sources of contamination like activities related to the storage of hydrocarbons, transport of diverse materials and throwing of effluents and the high demographic tax of the adjacent areas. This method considers and attributes values to seven parameters: depth of groundwater; recharge by the rain; aquifer media; soil type; topography; impact in vadose zone and hydraulic conductivity. Considering that the area of study is inserted in the context of the Dunes/Paleodunes system, the value of the DRASTIC index obtained in the present study is 168, what characterizes the area as being of high vulnerability in relation to contamination of groundwater. The vulnerable presented, can be attributed to factors like the inexpressive faciologic or granulometric variation of the Dunas/Paleodunas aquifer system (fine to medium sand), different from what occurs in the Barreiras Formation, its low freatic level and the high infiltration tax presented by the sediments that compose this system. It must be said the necessity of a monitoring of the groundwater quality and quantity used by the companies, to be guaranteed the sustainable use of this resource.