Gestão operacional e dos recursos hídricos de um trecho do Canal Adutor do Sertão Alagoano via modelagem hidrológico-hidráulica

Abstract

The population who lives in the semiarid region of Alagoas suffers from the effects of drought, whose main characteristic is the irregular distribution of rainfall and high temperatures. The situation affects not only agricultural production, but also causes socioeconomic problems. Aiming at combating these effects, promoting the improvement in the quality of life and the development of the Sertão and Agreste region of Alagoas, the Government of Alagoas, in 1992, created a project called Sertão Alagoano Adductor Channel (Canal do Sertão Alagoano), with the objective of capturing part of the water from the São Francisco River and transport it, through a channel, to the municipalities of the sertão and part of the Alagoas agreste. Currently, with four of the eight sections inaugurated, the Sertão Adductor Channel does not have a quantitative monitoring system for available water, although there are already users authorized to collecting water. In addition, there is the fact that the floodgates, which act to regulate the flow, are not currently operated, making the Sertão Channel work as an association of reservoirs in series. This makes its operational and water resources management difficult. The hydrological-hydraulic modeling emerges as a tool with the potential to simulate the current operating scenario of the Channel and it assists in the decision support system regarding management. Therefore, this work aimed to develop a hydrological-hydraulic model from kilometers 47.5 to 53, a section that allows analyzing the behavior of the channel in different types of cross-sections, in addition to the influence of the conduit in the regularization of the current. This section will be adjusted to the current scenario of the Channel, based on real data, allowing the adequate simulation of its operation and aiming to assist in the decision-making process. The analysis was carried out considering the existing authorized abstractions, both in the section under analysis and in the upstream and the climatic characteristics of the region. Through the analysis of scenarios, it was possible to conclude that there is an influence of the climate on the water availability of the Canal, but that this influence occurs due to the system of abstraction authorized for use and not due to the balance of the climatic water balance. In addition, the model showed that for the current scenario of the analyzed section, there are no emptying or overflow failures. It is concluded that the model has great value in demonstrating its analysis potential, and that its reapplication to the other sections would be an important tool in aiding decision making.