A configuração têmporo-espacial dos poços artesianos perfurados no Sudoeste do Paraná no período de 2018 a 2023 com vistas à Educação Ambiental

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the spatio-temporal configuration of deep tubular well drilling in the Southwest mesoregion of Paraná between 2018 and 2023, interpreting this process as an expression of the interconnectedness between climate, territory, and the use of natural resources. The research is grounded in the hypothesis that the general community lacks knowledge regarding groundwater recharge mechanisms. The central problem posits that periods of severe drought induce an increase in drilling as a palliative and immediate response to water insecurity, frequently overlooking the recharge capacity and natural limits of the Serra Geral Aquifer (a fractured system). This dynamic reveals an emergency response logic that, by recurrence, tends to naturalize the intensive exploitation of the subsoil. Such a context exacerbates the risk of water scarcity, particularly due to overexploitation and a management history dissociated from surface and groundwater, which reinforces fragmented water planning practices. The methodology involved the collection of secondary data from the Information System for Water Resources Management (SIGARH/IAT), followed by statistical systematization and spatialization via Geographic Information Systems (GIS), allowing for an integrated interpretation of the spatial and temporal patterns of drilling. The results demonstrate a sharp growth in groundwater exploration across all 42 municipalities in the region, with significant prominence in Francisco Beltrão, Dois Vizinhos, and Pato Branco. The findings evidence the intensification of aquifer use as a recurring alternative to surface water shortages. It was identified that the agricultural sector is the primary driver of demand, followed by uses in public administration, industry, and sanitation. The volume of wells in each sector illustrates the centrality of groundwater in sustaining productive activities and essential services. The analysis indicates that such expansion occurs predominantly as a reaction to extreme climatic events, highlighting the fragility of preventive policies and the urgency of Environmental Education processes. Such processes must be capable of problematizing the recharge limitations of fractured aquifers, promoting territorial awareness regarding water use, and strengthening participatory, integrated, and sustainable management of regional water resources.