Scenario and water supply diagnosis for human consumption in the municipality of Aracati, Ceará

ABSTRACT Aracati, a municipality in the State of Ceará, is experiencing water shortages. The unpredictability of rainfall and a lack of management of these resources worsen water scarcity. The work diagnosed water availability in the municipality to aid municipal water planning. The secondary data was precipitation, drilling wells, and water bodies mapped in Google Earth Pro®. The municipality presents a severe drought and has a poor water-to-land ratio. The 19 operating wells intended for human use have a daily output estimate sufficient to supply water to 65% of the local population. A further 23 wells are inactive, contributing another 20% to the groundwater supply deficit. Concerning water quality, there is fresh water in 23% of the wells, saline water in 25%, and brackish water in 52% of the wells. Therefore, it is critical to focus on managing and supporting projects for the sustainable use of water resources.