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Qualidade da água na Ilha Terceira: perceção pública sobre a relevância, ameaças e informação disponível acerca da água utilizada para uso humano
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Abstract(s)
A água para uso humano constitui um dos bens essenciais à vida e ao funcionamento das atividades socioeconómicas, e a forma como os consumidores percecionam a qualidade da água que consomem é de extrema importância para a gestão dos recursos hídricos.
A presente investigação incidiu sobre a população residente na ilha Terceira (Açores) e foi motivada maioritariamente pelo impacto que a contaminação dos solos e aquíferos das Lajes poderá ter sobre a qualidade da água na referida ilha. Neste sentido, pretendeu-se estudar a perceção pública relativamente à qualidade da água para uso humano, explorando o conhecimento que os cidadãos detêm sobre a relevância deste recurso para a sociedade, sobre as ameaças que possam comprometer a segurança e qualidade da água, bem como se a população facilmente identifica os órgãos gestores, as responsabilidades inerentes aos mesmos e se a informação que estes disponibilizam encontra-se acessível e compreensível. Ao agregar estes fatores foi possível traçar os perfis dos consumidores.
A concretização destes objetivos, passou pela utilização de um instrumento de recolha de dados em formato de inquérito, divulgado por via das redes sociais e junto da Câmara Municipal de Angra do Heroísmo e das Juntas de Freguesia da ilha. De forma a tratar os dados obtidos neste instrumento, aplicaram-se diversas técnicas estatísticas, designadamente, a análise univariada, a análise bivariada e a análise multivariada.
Foram validadas 242 respostas, e os resultados foram estudados aplicando técnicas de análise de dados, nomeadamente análise univariada, bivariada e multivariada. A variável “Qualidade da água” foi identificada como a mais relevante, pois permite aferir a perceção geral dos inquiridos da ilha Terceira, e apresenta associações estatisticamente significativas com outras variáveis, como, entre outras a faixa etária e a remuneração mensal dos inquiridos. Com base na análise estatística efetuada foi possível determinar três perfis de consumidores, designados como os “Despreocupados”, os “Preocupados” e os “Muito Preocupados”, com graus diversos de consciencialização relativamente aos fatores relacionados com a qualidade da água. Destaca-se a definição dos perfis dos consumidores da amostra estudada, como um fator de interesse para estudos futuros, bem como, para a adoção ou ajuste de medidas e políticas em vigor.
ABSTRACT: Water intended for human consumption is one of the essential elements for life and the functioning of socio-economic activities, and the way consumers perceive the quality of the water they consume is of outmost importance for the management of water resources. The present research focused on the population residing on Terceira Island (Azores) and was primarily motivated by the potential impact of soil and aquifer contamination in Lajes on the quality of water on the island. In this context, the aim was to study the public perception regarding the quality of water intended for human consumption, exploring the knowledge that citizens have about the relevance of this resource to society, the threats that may compromise water safety and quality, as well as whether the population easily identifies the governing bodies, their inherent responsibilities, and if the information they provide is accessible and understandable. By combining these factors, it was possible to profile consumers. To achieve these objectives, a data collection instrument in the form of a survey was used, disseminated through social networks and to the Municipal Council of Angra do Heroísmo and the Parish Councils on the island. Various statistical techniques, including univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis, were applied to process the data obtained through this instrument. A total of 242 responses were validated, and the results were studied using data analysis techniques, specifically univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis. The variable "Water Quality" was identified as the most relevant, as it allows assessing the overall perception of the respondents on Terceira Island and shows statistically significant associations with other variables, such as age group and the monthly income of the respondents. Based on the statistical analysis performed, three consumer profiles were determined, referred to as the "Unconcerned," the "Concerned," and the "Very Concerned," with varying degrees of awareness regarding factors related to water quality. Defining the profiles of consumers in the studied sample is highlighted as an area of interest for future studies, as well as for the adoption or adjustment of current measures and policies.
ABSTRACT: Water intended for human consumption is one of the essential elements for life and the functioning of socio-economic activities, and the way consumers perceive the quality of the water they consume is of outmost importance for the management of water resources. The present research focused on the population residing on Terceira Island (Azores) and was primarily motivated by the potential impact of soil and aquifer contamination in Lajes on the quality of water on the island. In this context, the aim was to study the public perception regarding the quality of water intended for human consumption, exploring the knowledge that citizens have about the relevance of this resource to society, the threats that may compromise water safety and quality, as well as whether the population easily identifies the governing bodies, their inherent responsibilities, and if the information they provide is accessible and understandable. By combining these factors, it was possible to profile consumers. To achieve these objectives, a data collection instrument in the form of a survey was used, disseminated through social networks and to the Municipal Council of Angra do Heroísmo and the Parish Councils on the island. Various statistical techniques, including univariate analysis, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis, were applied to process the data obtained through this instrument. A total of 242 responses were validated, and the results were studied using data analysis techniques, specifically univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis. The variable "Water Quality" was identified as the most relevant, as it allows assessing the overall perception of the respondents on Terceira Island and shows statistically significant associations with other variables, such as age group and the monthly income of the respondents. Based on the statistical analysis performed, three consumer profiles were determined, referred to as the "Unconcerned," the "Concerned," and the "Very Concerned," with varying degrees of awareness regarding factors related to water quality. Defining the profiles of consumers in the studied sample is highlighted as an area of interest for future studies, as well as for the adoption or adjustment of current measures and policies.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado, Ambiente, Saúde e Segurança, 12 de março de 2024, Universidade dos Açores.
Keywords
Qualidade da Água Terceira Poluição da Água Perceção Pública Consumidor
Citation
Silveira, Joana Mendonça Cunha e. (2023). "Qualidade da água na Ilha Terceira: perceção pública sobre a relevância, ameaças e informação disponível acerca da água utilizada para uso humano". 67 p. (Dissertação de Mestrado em Ambiente, Saúde e Segurança). Ponta Delgada: Universidade dos Açores, 2023. Disponível em http://hdl.handle.net/10400.3/7245