Composition of the social urban water shortage vulnerability index (SUWSVI) applied to São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mining dams within urban areas are a technological risk because, in the event of an accident, theyaffect water security. For example, a sand mining dam accident caused an interruption in the watersupply in the downstream city of São José dos Campos. Thus, the social vulnerability of the populationthat suffered from a failure in the drinking water supply was evaluated. A water shortage indicator,the Social Urban Water Shortage Vulnerability Index – SUWSVI, was composed. Variables that bestreflect the socioeconomic condition were used: Average Income of Head of Household, Female Headof Household, and Children and Elderly Dependent Ratio. The sensitivity analysis considered the cityby geographic regions and zoning classes, considering infrastructure supply and lot size. The resultsshowed that although there are full water supply and sewerage infrastructure (99.6%), the access towater was unequal (39% of the population in the medium SUWSVI range).