Government starts water supply works in rural communities of western Pará
The Secretary of Cities and Regional Integration and the federal government are working to bring drinking water to families living without access to this fundamental resource
The implementation of micro water supply systems, carried out by the State Secretary of Cities and Regional Integration (Secir), has already begun in two municipalities in the interior of Pará: Juruti and Terra Santa, both in the Western region. The work will ensure that families who have never had access to drinking water will start to benefit from the service, directly impacting the improvement of health and quality of life for residents.
In Vila Souza, a community in the interior of Juruti, public servant Bineu Souza, 36 years old, assures that water supply has always been a long-standing desire of the residents. Living there for 24 years with his family, he says that for the last 14 years, they have only had a temporary well, which frequently had failures. "Here, we have a well, with a pump that runs on diesel. By the way, today it has already had problems. And at these times we wait for the repair. We are left without water," says the resident.
A similar situation is experienced in the Jauaruna community in Terra Santa, where many residents have never used a shower. The municipal mayor, Edson Fonseca, highlights that "families suffered a lot from the drought. They had no water. We have residents who have never even taken a shower. But, thanks to our good God and Congressman Priante, who allocated an amendment to the Secretary of Cities, represented today by engineer Luiz Frazão, we can count on a micro system to serve seven families, which can expand to more. This is a long-standing struggle, but now there will be water for our people."
Treated water - The State Secretary of Cities, Fernanda Paes, explains that the choice of locations for the implementation of micro water supply systems took into account the drought map in Pará. "These are municipalities that, during the summer period, suffer from drought. I always make a point of emphasizing that these works are not just any service that reaches people, but a matter of dignity. Water is dignity, not to mention the health issue. For the first time, these people will have treated water, and that is fundamental," emphasizes Fernanda Paes.
Engineer Luiz Frazão, supervisor of the works by Secir, details that the micro systems are planned to serve the current population but with the capacity to expand to accommodate the growth of the communities. "In Terra Santa, for example, it is a treatment system that will provide water for 180 people and, in the future, can reach up to 270 people. It is a facility that will produce 15 thousand liters of water per hour, with a well 100 meters deep. There will be an elevated reservoir of 10 thousand liters to meet this demand," informs the engineer.
In addition to the capacity for expansion, the supply systems are sustainable, as they do not use energy from polluting sources, such as diesel, commonly used by residents to operate water pump motors, explains Luiz Frazão. "It does not use electric energy either, functioning entirely from solar energy, with no waste emissions. It is an innovative system that, I have no doubt, will be a very important change for this population. Furthermore, the entire system is metered, so they can identify their own consumption. With this, we will improve the lives of the people," he emphasizes.
Investments - In addition to Juruti and Terra Santa, another 15 municipalities in Pará will receive the project, reaching over 50 locations and approximately 3 thousand families. In 11 municipalities, micro supply systems will be implemented in the form of community fountains, offering collection points for collective use. In another six locations, complete supply systems will be built, which will bring treated water directly to homes.
The works are the result of an investment of R$ 49.7 million, from the New PAC (Growth Acceleration Program), signed by the Government of Pará and the Ministry of Cities. The projects are also aligned with the new Legal Framework for Basic Sanitation (Law No. 14.026/20). The legislation sets goals for the universalization of water supply and sewage treatment services throughout the country, including the objective of ensuring that by 2033, 99% of the Brazilian population has access to drinking water.
