Aproveitamento de água de chuva como estratégia de segurança hídrica no contexto de mudanças climáticas: estudo de caso do Centro Integrado de Educação Pública Antônio Carlos Bernardes Mussum (CIEP 418), RJ, Brasil

Abstract

Climate change has caused significant impacts on the intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation events and droughts. This phenomenon exacerbates water security problems in the metropolitan region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, both in terms of quantity and quality of water available for supply. In this context, the search for alternative water sources becomes essential to develop structures resilient to climate change. The present study evaluates the use of rainwater harvesting systems as an alternative source for non-potable uses in a scenario of climate change and challenges related to water security. The Integrated Center for Public Education (CIEP) 418, located in the Ricardo de Albuquerque neighborhood in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, is used as a case study. In this research, 11 extreme event indices calculated by the RClimDex software were evaluated, indicating a trend of increasing extreme events, especially related to drought, for the study area. To dimension the rainwater harvesting system for the CIEP, the consecutive dry days method was used. The adopted methodology demonstrated a potential reduction of 55% in the CIEP's annual potable water consumption and an increase of more than 10 days in its water supply capacity. Thus, rainwater harvesting presents itself as an effective water security strategy, reducing pressure on water sources, especially during drought periods. The results obtained highlight the importance of implementing rainwater harvesting systems as an adaptive measure to climate change and one of the solutions to the water security challenges faced by the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. Furthermore, the study has the potential for replication of this approach in other institutions and urban areas, contributing to the construction of resilient and sustainable cities.