Descarte do esgotamento sanitário no rio Itapecuru: uma análise sobre o bairro Cangalheiro, na cidade de Caxias-MA

Abstract

Basic sanitation represents one of the main socio-enviromental challenges faced by Brazilian cities, especially in peripheral and riverside areas, where the lack of adequate infrastructure compromises public health and the environmental quality of water resources. This study analyzes the impacts of inadequate domestic sewage disposal in the Itapecuru River, emphasizing the socio-environmental and public health consequences for residents of the Cangalheiro neighborhood, in Caxias (MA), Brazil. The research focused on three main aspects: health problems related to the absence of proper sanitation services, the residents’ perception of the sewage conditions in the area, and public policies aimed at managing and treating domestic wastewater in the municipality. The methodological approach was qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory, combining bibliographic review, documentary analysis, and the application of structured questionnaires to local residents. The results indicate severe sanitary deficiencies in the neighborhood, including exposed sewage, improvised pits, and the direct discharge of wastewater into the Itapecuru River. These conditions contribute to the spread of diseases, unpleasant odors, environmental contamination, insufficient coverage of public services. Additionally, the study found that only a small portion of the sewage produced in Caxias is collected and treated, highlighting structural fragilities and limitations in public sanitation policies. It is concluded that the precarious sanitary conditions in the Cangalheiro neighborhood represent na urgent socio-environmental problem, compromising public health and contributing to the degradation of the Itapecuru River, reinforcing the need for continuous and effective governmental interventions.