Enviromental perception regarding the quality of the water used in the historic village of caraíva, Porto Seguro-BA

Abstract

Environmental sanitation represents an essential tool for maintaining environmental quality, well-being, and human health. The study of environmental perception, on the other hand, can provide instruments to overcome impasses related to this theme by providing an awareness of the problems related to the lived environment. This work aims to analyze the environmental perception of the historic village of Caraíva residents, in Porto Seguro, state of Bahia, Brazil regarding the quality of water used, health impacts, responsibilities, and expectations for improvements, It can also contribute with information to support actions that collaborate to provide better living conditions for the local population. For this purpose, 77 interviews were conducted through a structured script with open and closed questions and field observation between November 2019 and March 2020. Qualitative data were interpreted and through the technique of the Collective Subject Discourse (DSC). With the RStudio statistical software aid, the chi-square test was applied in the data to verify a dependency relationship between sociodemographic variables and qualitative results. According to the results, the population depends heavily on wells' water, and this water source is used more than a piped one. The insecurity regarding the water quality is reflected in the high adhesion to bottled mineral water. Schooling was the most significant factor in the perception that filtered water can put health at risk. Respondents recognize the public authorities' responsibility for maintaining water supply services and conserving their quality.