Welitom Ttatom Pereira Da Silva,Aldecy de Almeida Santos,Marco Antonio Almeida de Souza, Universidade de Brasília, Engenharia Civil, wttatom@terra.com.br
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to develop and to apply a rural water supply systems (WSS) assessment tool to typical cases in Brazil. The methodology developed comprises the following steps: (1) a brief description of the tools previously developed; (2) combination and adaptation of previously developed tools employing a multicriteria approach; (3) data gathering and simulation of real cases; (4) application of the developed tool to typical cases in Brazil. Adaptations were done and they consisted of some indexes modifications (safety of drinking water and rural WSS structural condition), inclusion of the TOPSIS Method for selection of the adaptive solution, and consideration of local expertise information for definition of weights. Some of modified indexes were those for conditions of water reservoirs and water distribution network. It can be concluded that the Brazilian rural WSS showed operational and maintenance problems. The developed tool was considered as an useful decision support to the planning of the Brazilian rural WSS.
Keywords: rural households; technical assessment; water problem