Análise de vazamentos de água nos bairros abastecidos pelo reservatório apoiado pelo INPE em Cuiabá–MT

Abstract

Water plays a fundamental role in various activities, from essential physiological functions in the human body to large-scale industrial processes, making it imperative that its distribution adheres to established quality standards, followed by appropriate treatment. However, the water crisis is a global challenge that highlights the urgent need to control the waste of this resource. In this context, water losses during the distribution process constitute a problem of significant proportions, especially in urban areas like Cuiabá, which faces an alarming water loss rate of approximately 50%. Given this scenario, it becomes crucial to understand and mitigate these losses to achieve more efficient water resource management. This study aimed to analyse water leaks in neighbourhoods supplied by the Inpe supported reservoir in Cuiabá. The methodology employed included the creation of a heat map to identify the areas most affected by leaks in this region. Additionally, available data on the materials used in the distribution networks, the year of installation of these networks, and the time required for repairs throughout the year 2023 were compared. The results revealed the importance of using more effective materials for this region, as well as the urgency of installing new networks, given that the highest leakage rates occurred in older networks. Moreover, they highlighted the need to implement a comprehensive action plan to improve the water distribution process, incorporating strategies such as infrastructure management, active leak control, region sectorization, pressure management, and ensuring agility and quality in repairs. The analysis of the materials used in the distribution networks showed that certain types of materials demonstrated greater resistance and a lower propensity to leaks, emphasizing the importance of investing in high-quality materials to ensure the durability and efficiency of the networks. Additionally, by identifying the areas most impacted by leaks through the heat map, it was possible to more quickly observe the neighbourhood with the highest incidence of leaks, noting that this neighbourhood does not have a clearly defined sectorization. In summary, the study emphasized the need to implement improvements to mitigate water losses in the distribution process. The application of some of these approaches in the studied region evidenced the positive impact of these strategies, reflected in the fact that repairs made in this area represented only 5% of the total interventions carried out in Cuiabá throughout 2023.