Potencial Risco de Contaminação do Sistema Aquífero Dunas-Barreiras por Atividades Antrópicas em Área de Manancial no Nordeste Brasileiro

Potential Risk of Contamination of the Dunas-Barreiras Aquifer System by Anthropic Activities in a Source Area in Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

The search for water resources has always been a criterion for human development. However, the negative impacts caused by human activities demonstrate the importance of the conservation of water 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, in a 1:100,000 scale, areas with higher potential risks of groundwater contamination in the Dunas-Barreiras Aquifer system, in the Bonfim System area. Such source is located in the NE region of Brazil, near the eastern coast of Rio Grande do Norte, and is used to supply about 300,000 people. The results show that 46.14% of the catchment area presented Medium, Strong and Very Strong potential for contamination. On the other hand, areas with negligible potential covered 39.73% represented by semi-natural areas, without the presence of anthropic activities. The spatialization of the potential risk of contamination of groundwater of this source aims to assist in public and private decision-making, contributing 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