Análise dos índices de perdas de água na rede de distribuição da zona urbana de Inhapi / AL e possíveis soluções para os problemas detectados

Abstract

Increasingly, the demands of water introduce new challenges to the water distribution system, as the requeriment of quantity and quality rise proportionally, attached to the mankind development. In this regard, the concern with this resource has been assuming a position of priority in people’s lives and, thus, emerge the need of protection of it. Subjects such as the water loss prevention are extremely important to develop the efficiency of distribution systems. In Brazil, the loss rate reaches considerable values and, going inside the territory, it can be noticed the necessity of minimally efficient systems to attend the basic water demand of the population. In the city of Inhapí, located in Alagoas, the distributor company faced several problems related to water loss, and to decide to any measure in order to mitigate the refered loss, it was necessary to estimate and characterize them. It was found, in the year of study, an average of losses in the distribution of 19,229.75 m3, where of this volume approximately 58.16% was destined to real losses and 41.84% to apparent losses. So, with comparative studies , through a hydric balance, was allowed to estimate, characterize and hierarchize the water loss. Therefore, the conclusion was that the company, due to the most water loss be caused by leakage, would need a better assistance combined to devices which enables more celerity to discover the leaks.