Análise da situação da gestão de recursos hídricos no distrito industrial de Uberlândia MG: o modelo da Souza Cruz S/A

Abstract

Human and industrial concentration in urban centers with large regional influence, such as Uberlândia-MG, constantly produce pressure on local and regional water systems, what causes its degradation as a direct consequence, with large environmental consequences, especially in decreasing the quantity and quality of the water, as well as watersheds damaging, especially due to the release of untreated effluents. However, alternatives to minimize the impacts caused, especially in the water use, are being discussed and implemented, aiming water‟s rational use and control of its demand. Among these alternatives, specifically in Brazil, the planned water reuse is a plausible solution to mitigate the effects on water systems. Nowadays, the water resources management in the industries is more complex because of the need for mechanisms and alternative activities to minimize environmental impacts, the attempt to adapt and compensate the obligations established by the Brazilian law and they‟re still facing a competitive growing market and, in most cases, without environmental policies. From this perspective of analysis, this dissertation aims analyzing and evaluating the management of water use in the industrial district of Uberlândia-MG, using the case of Souza Cruz S/A, that for over two years adopts in its environmental management the water reuse, identifying the alternatives to minimize environmental impacts, particularly regarding to water resources, through reuse. The main results show the lack of environmental control by the majority of industries. The municipal authorities are still facing difficulties to enforce the law, despite being in advance through programs such as PREMEND the Department of Municipal Water and Sewerage (DMAE) regarding environmental management industry. The main limitations in the measures implementation such as the water reuse, is the cost-benefit factor and the disregard of many companies on the use of natural resources, which is exacerbating the situation of water resources in the basin in which the district is located. It was possible to observe that the industrial environment presents a dichotomy of DMAE, specifically on the industrial water use, which makes the water care reach the industrial facilities totally the opposite when it returns to the environment. Despite the difficulties in water managing in the DI, Souza Cruz accomplished through its mitigated processes, such as the water reuse, reducing the offered demand by the concessionaire, and 100% reuse of its effluents, not releasing them in public places, reducing, therefore, the overload at the sewage treatment center and improving the local environmental conditions. However, a balanced environmental position between the need and how to use water is an option of a few enterprises in the industrial district of Uberlândia. Therefore, there is a need for a greater contribution of the society so that the environmental dynamics designed to meet the industrial and human needs can be guided by procedures and policies for environmental preservation bringing new opportunities in local water management, or through private positive contributions, such as the reuse implemented by Souza Cruz, is the municipal administrative guidelines, which regulates water use and establishes conservation practices. Indeed, the problems in the correct use of water overcomes an abuse and, at the same time, a delay in attempts to adequate how much to consume and preserve in Uberlândia, MG.