Agências, técnicas, custos e oferta de água em comunidades rurais de Januária, Semiárido de Minas Gerais

Abstract

In the semiarid of northern Minas Gerais, in the Upper Middle São Francisco River, the “gerais” they are sandy big stoners of low vegetation and paths, marked by low rainfall, high temperatures, irregular rainfall and frequent drought. This article analyzes the dynamics of droughts in two rural communities in the “gerais”, identifying the agencies that mediate the water offer, the techniques employed in the supply and estimating water provision costs. To achieve these results, consultations were made documents, interviews, consumption measurements and field observations in the period 2017/2019, in drought and rainy seasons. The article shows that, despite years of drought and prolonged “veranicos”, the arrangement for domestic supply based on the combination artesian well / plate cistern assures the rural population satisfactory levels of water consumption. However, the arrangement does not ensure long term water and there is need for systematic action by state agencies and civil society specializing in water supply.