Proposal for an index to assess and aid decision-making on water security for self-constructed alternative solutions in Peri-Urban areas

Abstract

Domestic wells, here referred to as Self Constructed Alternative Solutions, and self-supply systems have little visibility in groundwater management at the municipal level, a characteristic that contributes to water insecurity among user populations. Despite the existence of numerous methodologies for assessing the risk of groundwater contamination, many require specific knowledge of hydrogeological concepts, thus falling outside the scope of most technicians in the more than five thousand Brazilian municipalities. Furthermore, many rely on obtaining indicators through chemical analyses, which makes them costly. To support municipalities in decision-making regarding the management of water supply from domestic wells, this article proposes the Water Security Index for Self-Constructed Alternative Solutions (ISSAA), developed based on a litera-ture review and employing multi-criteria analysis in decision support (AHP) for the qualification and prioritization of the parameters used in the index formulation. The ISSAA consists of three main tables and a short tutorial to assist in the development of the index. Its application results in a scale of values that indicates the specific risk at each well and the operational and water management priorities to be employed, assisting in the decision-making of municipal technicians, particularly those in Environmental Health Surveillance.