Cistern in schools program: Case study in the mountainous microregion of quilombos in the state of alagoas, Brazil

Abstract

The reality of many rural schools in the public system presents a still worrying scenario regarding access to water. The Cisterns in Schools Project aims to provide water for rural schools in the Semi-Arid and priority areas located in indigenous villages and quilombola communities, using structural actions through the design of cisterns as social technology for rainwater storage, and non-structural actions through contextualized educational practices. The work aims to present a pioneering diagnosis of the infrastructure of water supply services to rural schools in which cisterns of the Cisterns in Schools Program were implemented in the mountainous dos Quilombos Microregion in the state of Alagoas, specifically in the municipality of Santana do Mandau. The methodology was based on exploratory and qualitative research using semi-structured and unstructured interviews, using a questionnaire, report cards and photographic records. Of the cisterns installed in schools, only one is being partially used. They are all totally devoid of technical monitoring, being possible to perceive the lack of interest of the municipal executive in promoting the maintenance of this equipment.