Potencial risco de contaminação do sistema aquífero dunas/barreiras por atividades antrópicas em área de manancial no Nordeste Brasileiro

Abstract

The search for water resources has always been a criterion for human development. However, the negative impacts triggered by anthropic activities such as the advance of urbanized areas and agriculture in areas of springs, which should be treated as Environmental Preservation Zones (EPA), demonstrate the importance of conservation of surface water and groundwater sources. From a Multicriteria Analysis, involving map algebra and Weighted Linear Combination of physical, biotic and anthropic attributes, in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment, the present work proposes to identify, on a scale of 1:100.000, areas with higher potential risks of groundwater contamination in the Dunas/Barreiras Aquifer System in the Bonfim System (SB) area. Such source is located in the NE region of Brazil, near the eastern coast of Rio Grande do Norte (RN) being used for the supply of about three hundred thousand people. The results show that 46.14% of the area of the spring had Medium, Strong and Very Strong potential for contamination. On the other hand, areas with negligible potential covered 39.73% and represent semi-natural areas, without the presence of anthropic activities. The spatialization of the potential risk of groundwater contamination of this important spring, aiming to assist in the decision making, public and private, and contribute to the territorial planning of the municipalities of São José de Mipibu and Nísia Floresta, showing areas where anthropic use should be delayed, prioritizing conservation.