Sistema de tratamento de água potável em comunidades com vulnerabilidade hídrica qualitativa.

Abstract

Groundwater in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul presents natural characteristics that, in various regions, result in high hardness and salinity, rendering the resource unsuitable for direct human consumption. The presence of limestone formations, common in areas of the state, favors the release of calcium and magnesium ions, while the excess of dissolved salts contributes to water salinization, leading to its classification as brackish. Although sourced underground, this water requires treatment, and technologies such as reverse osmosis, ion exchange, electrodialysis, and nanofiltration can be employed, as these processes are capable of reducing hardness, salinity, and undesirable compounds. Rural communities in the state without access to the public water supply network rely heavily on these groundwater sources for subsistence and face qualitative water vulnerability due to the lack of adequate treatment systems. Prolonged exposure to such water affects public health, agricultural productivity, and food security, while also exacerbating social inequalities. In this context, the objective of this study was to develop a treatment system for groundwater with high hardness and/or salinity, suitable for use in communities experiencing water vulnerability in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The system, based on membrane filtration through reverse osmosis, was designed for single-family or small-group application, with a focus on technical and economic feasibility and replicability in remote areas far from urban centers.