Avaliação da eficácia de medidores proporcionais de vazão para controle do volume distribuído no sistema de abastecimento de água da cidade de Araguaína – TO

Abstract

The increase of the world population and water pollution has reduced the availability of potable water in the planet. The essential nature of water for human activities, its scarcity and the high cost associated with alternative sources makes reducing water losses in water supplies indispensable. This paper aims to diagnose losses rates in the water supply system in the city of Araguaína - TO and evaluate the effectiveness of proportional flow meters for controlling the distributed volume in such system. The diagnosis was based on operational information and further development of indicators for assessing the losses in the water system, which is below Brazilian average. The lack of compartimentalization in the system and the deficiency in flow measurement were highlighted. The evaluation of the proportional meters was done through the installation of such equipment in the field and by comparison, through statistical analysis, of measurements made by the proportional meters with measurements made in standard equipment. The proportional meter has presented accuracy and proved to be an efficient, low cost and easy installation alternative. The installation of these meters in the water supply system of Araguaína, with the implementation of limited supply sectors, would allow an effective loss management.