Águas urbanas e questões significativas no processo de urbanização: estudo de caso para situações de alagamentos, enchentes e inundações em São Luís, Maranhão

Abstract

The importance given by public management to the treatment of urban water and to the infrastructure aimed at environmental sanitation has an impact on the urbanization processes and on the quality of life of the people. The urban expansion of the city of São Luís, in Maranhão, is marked by a certain lack of planning and adequate infrastructure for the treatment of urban water. This situation contributes to the consolidation of an urban fabric that is vulnerable to infrastructure coverage, maintenance and control by the public administration itself. During rainy periods, the island city is affected and some places suffer flooding and inundation, proving the lack of adequate infrastructure solutions and causing damage to urban mobility, the environment and civil defense accidents. Thus, this work relates the concept of Urban Waters to urban development and significant issues in the Urbanization process, with emphasis on the city's Urban Drainage. Through bibliographical research on the subject; elaboration of the theoretical framework; investigation of news reports; visitation, observation and data collection of the objects of study of this research; a mapping of flooding events, inundations and inundations in some parts of the city was carried out with the help of the QGis program. The theoretical framework brings concepts and definitions of authors relevant to the topic with a focus on Sustainable Drainage and adaptations to climate change, where one can perceive the commitment of public management to these significant issues for contemporary urbanism. Some cities in several countries around the world are organized strategically, structuring themselves in advance of maximum events and climate change. As a result of the data processing and application of the knowledge acquired, specific strategies for São Luís are presented through a case study, where their particularities, contextualization of the topic and evidence of their weaknesses in the fabric and storm drainage are presented. There are also reflections on the significant impacts on urbanization and the lack of integrated urban management that is still a challenge in the relationship between urban waters and territory9. Finally, the directions and strategies for the situations and problems identified in São Luís confirm the need for attention to the issue also in the context of urbanization of Brazilian cities. Keywords: urban water; urbanization; sustainable drainage